Rezan Epözdemir's testimony in terror investigation revealed! Action taken after that photo...

Lawyer Rezan Epözdemir, who was detained on the morning of August 10 on charges of "bribery," "aiding FETÖ/PDY," and "political and military espionage," was arrested by the duty magistrate on the grounds of "mediating bribery" and "receiving bribes." Regarding the terror-related charges, the magistrate decided to reject the request for judicial control measures.

ALLEGED FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE CONNECTION

On the other hand, the details of the terror investigation and Epözdemir's testimony to the prosecutor's office were revealed in the referral document.

According to the information in Epözdemir's referral document, the investigation was launched following a photograph that appeared in the national press at the end of 2024. It was stated that in the photo in question, it was assessed that Epözdemir met for a meal with individuals connected to certain foreign intelligence services.

The document stated, "It is understood that among the foreign nationals present at the meal in question, an individual named Michael Rubin is assessed to be conducting activities against the Republic of Turkey in America, and is also connected to the American Foreign Intelligence Service, with his work being directed by this service."

The text also conveyed that Dan Arbell, who was in the photo, is connected to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and indirectly to MOSSAD, served as a mission chief at the Israeli Embassy in Washington between 2009-2012, and has been named in activities against Turkey. It was also noted that Epözdemir's meeting with these individuals was not seen as "consistent with the ordinary flow of life." The prosecutor's office assessed that there is strong suspicion regarding the alleged crimes, but that judicial control measures could be sufficient at the current stage.

"I AM A LOCAL AND NATIONAL PERSON"

In his interrogation at the prosecutor's office, Epözdemir responded firmly to the question of whether he had ties to FETÖ, stating, "I am a local and national person. I cannot have any connection with any foreign intelligence service. No one would dare to contact me either."

DEFENSE REGARDING THE DINNER PHOTO

Regarding the question about the dinner photo, Epözdemir recalled that this matter had been examined previously and that it was deemed unnecessary to open an investigation, noting the following:

“My client Gürsel Tekin contacted me and asked if my brother's fiancée could translate, as a delegation from abroad had arrived, they spoke English, and they were going to have a meal with the delegation. She was an English teacher at the time. When we arrived there, I greeted Gürsel Tekin and said 'hello' to the Turks who were also there. I did not establish any communication with the foreign individuals you asked me about; I may have said 'hello' in English. My English was not very good at that time.

We sat for about half an hour, 45 minutes, maybe 1 hour, and then we left. I couldn't understand why I was called, and I didn't even know who was there. There was no conversation I witnessed. This delegation met with many people before and after that same day and date. It is understood that the people who met with this delegation include Turkish journalists, business people, and diplomats, Murat G., Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Faruk L., Faik Ö., and Bülent K. While dozens of people were met with throughout that week, this issue is being asked only to me.”

"MY NAME IS NOT AMONG THE 30 PEOPLE TO BE MET IN ISTANBUL"

Epözdemir denied the accusations and continued his testimony with these words:

“I do not accept the accusations leveled against me; for all these reasons, I request to be released without any judicial control measures applied to me, otherwise, I will not be able to perform my professional activities, and it will cause irreparable damage to my clients. There is no strong suspicion of crime regarding the accusation. The conditions for arrest have not been met; I have a fixed residence, I am a father of 3 children, and finally, it will be seen that my name is not among the 30 people this delegation was to meet in Istanbul in the system where this delegation was recorded. I request that a decision of non-prosecution be issued for me so that I do not suffer further victimization.”

News Source: İHA