Merdan Yanardağ's statement on 'Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to meet, someone acted as an intermediary': He had said 'I am just learning about this'

The second hearing of the case in which detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, election campaign director Necati Özkan, and TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ are being tried on charges of "political espionage" was held today at the Silivri Prison complex by the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court.

TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Yanardağ, for whom a trustee has been appointed, gave his testimony. His testimony also included the special broadcast they conducted with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the CHP Chairmanship by a court decision, had stated that he was unaware that the interview conducted with him was included in Yanardağ's file.

"I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY INTENTION OF ACCEPTING THE MEETING, BUT"

Taking the opportunity to address reporters during a break in the hearing, Yanardağ stated that Kılıçdaroğlu had requested a meeting with him following these remarks.

Explaining that Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to meet with him, Merdan Yanardağ said, "I don't really have any intention, but I am evaluating it. Someone acted as an intermediary and requested it for me to accept the meeting."

"I DO NOT BELIEVE HE COMMITTED A CRIME"

Yanardağ had sent a message to the program where Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was answering questions live, stating, "Whatever your intention may be, you are presenting an image parallel to the government. So much so that while the interview I conducted with you is shown as the reason for my arrest in my indictment, you have not made a single comment on this matter," and asked the question, "Have you read my indictment? Did I commit a crime in the program I did with you?"

Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he had just learned that Yanardağ was being accused due to the interview in question, saying, "No, I do not believe he committed a crime in this regard. To tell the truth, I am just learning that he is being accused of this."

News Source: 12punto