Response from Cemil Tugay to Tunç Soyer

Following the arrest of former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer as part of an ongoing investigation, a series of mutual statements have been exchanged between him and the current mayor, Cemil Tugay. In an interview earlier this week, Tugay emphasized that he had no connection to the files that led to Soyer's arrest. Tunç Soyer, in a statement made from Kırıklar Prison, claimed that Tugay's remarks were "slander" and held the mayor directly responsible for his arrest.

As the controversy grew, Cemil Tugay responded to the public via social media. Tugay stated, "I am saddened to have to make such a statement. However, I absolutely reject the 'guilty' label that is being attempted to be pinned on me."

He continued his statement as follows:

"This is the answer given to a question asked by a journalist;

Tunç Soyer holds you responsible for his arrest, what do you say to this?

I have stated to the public hundreds of times that I find Mr. Soyer's detention during trial to be very unfair and wrong. The case in which he is being tried while in detention was opened during his own term and concerns cooperatives that were given responsibility as contractors in the construction of the municipality's urban transformation projects. The victims in the file are cooperative members who could not take delivery of their homes and some cooperative managers. In the indictment, 450 people are listed as victims and 7 people as complainants. Cemil Tugay or the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality are not among these names. Furthermore, the plaintiff on behalf of the public is the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The municipality, along with the Ministries, is listed in the 'those harmed by the crime' section.

The beginning of the indictment contains the phrase 'in the criminal complaint reports notified to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by the Ministry of Interior's Civil Inspection Board.' All of these are the most concrete evidence that Mr. Soyer's constant and persistent accusations declaring me guilty are untrue. And the journalist asks this question; Then why does he constantly accuse you?

The attitude he has shown since the first day I became a candidate, the intense reaction, the lack of any supportive stance throughout the election campaign, and his making many unfair accusations and criticisms at every opportunity is 'unfortunately a personal hostile attitude far from any fair assessment and ethical stance'.

I am in great sorrow. The fact that he tries to portray me as guilty without any reason, despite the fact that I have not the slightest contribution to Mr. Soyer's arrest and trial, and that he actually and in reality tries to discredit me in the position of Metropolitan Mayor I hold, is an injustice that I will never accept and will not leave unanswered from now on."