Ankara prosecutors seek up to three years in prison for Imamoglu, 11 others

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has completed its investigation into alleged irregularities during the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 38th Ordinary Congress, held on November 4–5, 2023. 

An indictment was filed under Article 112 of the Political Parties Law, which addresses vote rigging within political party procedures, and has now been accepted by the court, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

According to the indictment, former CHP leader Kemal Kilichdaroglu was identified as the victim, while former Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Lutfu Savash was listed as the complainant.

A prison sentence ranging from one to three years is being sought for several prominent CHP figures, including Istanbul’s ousted Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Ozgur Chelik. Other names cited in the indictment include Baki Aydoner, Erkan Aydın, Huseyin Yashar, Mehmet Kılıncharslan, Metin Guzelkaya, Nihat Yeshiltash, Ozgen Nama, Rıza Akpolat, and Serhat Can Esh.

The indictment alleges that Imamoglu, who presided over the congress as the "Chairman of the Council," organised a coordinated effort among party members to ensure the election of Ozgur Ozel as CHP chair. It claims that some congress delegates were offered bribes, promises of municipal positions or candidacies, jobs for themselves or relatives within CHP-affiliated institutions, and even shopping cards in exchange for votes.

It further states that delegates were instructed to photograph their completed ballots and send them to the organisers, and that misleading information about Kilichdaroglu’s withdrawal from the race was disseminated to manipulate the voting process during the second round of balloting.

The indictment also cites allegations that were widely discussed in traditional and social media at the time, particularly claims by party members that Ozel supporters offered incentives to Kılıchdaroglu-aligned delegates.

While the current charges focus on the 12 individuals listed, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a separate investigation has been launched into several members of parliament in connection with the same allegations.

By Sabina Mammadli