14 May 2025
Investigative journalist, TV commentator and writer İsmail Saymaz, who is under house arrest, gave his statement as part of an investigation concerning the 38th Ordinary Congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The investigation is reportedly based on the allegation that Saymaz acted in favor of Özgür Özel and Ekrem İmamoğlu and received benefits from them in return, thereby playing a role in Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s removal from party leadership. Saymaz stated, “If I had truly caused Kılıçdaroğlu to lose the congress through such a relationship of benefit, he himself would be the first to believe it. But even Kılıçdaroğlu does not believe in this allegation.” The investigation is being conducted under Article 255 of the Turkish Penal Code (trading in influence).