Mansur Yavaş responds to 'investigation' permit allegations

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into allegations of public loss regarding concert expenditures organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) between 2021 and 2024. The Prosecutor's Office sent a letter to the Ministry of Interior requesting an investigation permit for ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

Yesterday, claims appeared in some media outlets that an investigation permit had been granted for Yavaş. Following these allegations, journalist İsmail Saymaz asked Mansur Yavaş directly about the process and shared Yavaş's statements with the public.

YAVAŞ: “NO INVESTIGATION PERMIT HAS BEEN GRANTED, THE REVIEW IS ONGOING”

Mansur Yavaş categorically denied the allegations and stated that the matter is still in the review stage. In his statement to Saymaz, Yavaş said:

“This is already a week-long development. An inspector had been sent regarding us. They asked us some questions, and we provided answers. The inspector has been here for a week; furthermore, this is not the first time an inspector has come.”

Yavaş also touched upon the scope of the review initiated by the Ministry of Interior and shared the following information:

“Various reports may have also come through CİMER. Perhaps they may have asked a few new questions. We will provide the necessary answers to those questions as well.”

INSPECTOR REVIEW CONTINUES

Journalist İsmail Saymaz stated that the process is still in the review phase. According to Saymaz, after this stage is completed, the inspectors will submit their reports to the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry will decide whether or not to grant an investigation permit based on the report.

Saymaz stated, “That stage has not been reached yet. Currently, only the inspector review is ongoing. An investigation permit has not been granted.”

It was noted that the inspectors conducting the review have been at the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for a week and have requested various documents from officials.

HE POINTED TO THE YERLİKAYA ERA

Mansur Yavaş evaluated the process by comparing it with the eras of former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and current Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

In his statement to İsmail Saymaz, Yavaş said:

“During the Süleyman Soylu era, inspectors would express the opinion that ‘there is no need for an investigation.’ However, Soylu generally would not make a decision and would keep the files waiting. In the Ali Bey (Yerlikaya) era, things are not kept waiting. If the inspector expresses the opinion that an investigation permit should not be granted, Ali Bey approves it immediately.”

Based on these statements, Saymaz reported that Yavaş finds Interior Minister Yerlikaya's approach to the process more positive.

“THERE IS A JOURNALIST SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION”

Mansur Yavaş also alleged that some media members played a role in the spread of the investigation permit claim.

Yavaş stated that a journalist, whose name he did not mention, is the Ankara representative of a pro-government television channel. According to Yavaş's statements, this journalist put the aforementioned “false information” into circulation.

According to İsmail Saymaz, Yavaş stated that such news is usually spread from the same source and that a similar attempt occurred yesterday. Yavaş expressed that the process is proceeding normally, that the inspectors are asking questions at the municipality, and that they are responding to these questions.

STATEMENT FROM ABB

The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality provided the following information regarding the process in question:

Regarding the news in some press outlets stating that “The Ministry of Interior has given Mansur Yavaş one week for his defense upon the request of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office,” it has become necessary to make a statement to inform the public correctly.

As is known, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has requested an investigation permit from the Ministry of Interior regarding an indictment in which Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş's name is not mentioned.

Regarding the process known in the public as the “concert investigation,” Civil Service Inspectors previously conducted a comprehensive review and did not even see the need to seek Mansur Yavaş's testimony.

Upon the request of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Interior has sent inspectors to our municipality, and the matters requested to be investigated are being reviewed. Mansur Yavaş has provided a written statement on this matter.

And the ordinary process is working.

The issue of “giving a 7-day period” consists of the standard 7 to 10-day period routinely granted for defense in Civil Service investigations.

In the end, upon the request of the Civil Service Inspector, the Ministry of Interior will decide whether or not to grant an investigation permit. The process works this way. In the event that an investigation permit is granted, our legal right to appeal against this situation will of course be open.

News Source: 12punto