CHP Lawmaker Faces Up to Eight Years in Prison After Sharing Erdoğan’s Asset Declaration

A senior opposition lawmaker in Türkiye is facing a potential prison sentence and political ban after sharing what he claimed was President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 1994 asset declaration. Prosecutors have submitted a motion to parliament seeking to lift the MP’s immunity, accusing him of unlawfully obtaining and publishing personal data and insulting the president. The case has triggered a fresh political and legal dispute over transparency, freedom of expression, and the limits of parliamentary immunity.

Prosecutors Seek to Lift Parliamentary Immunity

Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, a deputy chair of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has disclosed a parliamentary motion seeking the removal of his legislative immunity following a criminal investigation launched against him.

The motion, prepared by the Parliamentary Bureau of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, was formally submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). Yavuzyılmaz announced the development via social media, sharing details of the charges and the potential penalties he faces.

Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of between four and eight years, along with the application of Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code, which would impose a political ban if he were convicted.

The Social Media Post at the Center of the Case

According to the indictment summary included in the parliamentary motion, the investigation stems from a social media post Yavuzyılmaz shared on 31 August 2025.

In that post, Yavuzyılmaz claimed to have obtained “the first and only accurate asset declaration” of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published a document dated 15 April 1994. He argued that the document reflected Erdoğan’s financial situation at the start of his political career.

The prosecutor’s office stated that the post could constitute the criminal offense of “insulting the president”, prompting authorities to open an investigation ex officio. The document’s publication was also deemed to potentially violate laws governing the protection of personal data.

Complaint Filed by Erdoğan’s Lawyer

The parliamentary motion also notes that President Erdoğan’s lawyer, Hüseyin Aydın, filed a separate criminal complaint against Yavuzyılmaz on 1 September.

That complaint accuses the CHP lawmaker of “unlawfully obtaining and disseminating personal data,” a charge that carries significant prison sentences under Turkish law. Prosecutors concluded that the alleged offense met the legal criteria required to pursue criminal proceedings, provided parliamentary immunity is lifted.

In its legal assessment, the prosecutor’s office emphasized that parliamentary immunity in Türkiye does not offer absolute protection and can be removed by parliament for actions unrelated to legislative duties.

Potential Prison Sentence and Political Ban

If the TBMM votes to lift Yavuzyılmaz’s immunity and he is subsequently convicted, prosecutors are requesting:

• 4 to 8 years in prison, and

• The application of political disqualification measures, commonly referred to as a “political ban,” under Article 53 of the penal code.

Such a ruling would bar Yavuzyılmaz from holding public office or engaging in certain political activities for a defined period.

Yavuzyılmaz: “This Confirms the Information Is True”

Responding to the charges, Yavuzyılmaz strongly rejected the accusations and framed the case as politically motivated.

In a statement shared publicly, he said:

“I am being prosecuted and threatened with prison for revealing Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s asset holdings from 1994, when he was still at the very beginning of his political career. On top of that, prosecutors are seeking an aggravated sentence. This only raises one obvious question: does this mean the information I disclosed is accurate? What does it mean for a sitting president to still try to hide past asset declarations?”

Yavuzyılmaz’s remarks reflect broader opposition claims that the investigation is aimed at deterring scrutiny of senior political figures rather than addressing genuine legal violations.

The Contested 1994 Asset Declaration

The document shared by Yavuzyılmaz quickly became the focus of intense public debate.

According to information circulated by the CHP lawmaker, the 1994 asset declaration allegedly listed:

• Real estate holdings in İstanbul and Rize, including plots of land and an apartment in the Maltepe district of İstanbul,

• Jewelry and gold assets registered in the name of Erdoğan’s spouse,

• Foreign currency holdings, including German marks and U.S. dollars, and

• Shares in a private company.

The authenticity and legal status of the document have not been independently verified by judicial authorities. Government officials have not provided a detailed public rebuttal regarding the content of the asset list itself, instead focusing on the legality of its publication.

A Broader Political Context

The case comes at a time of heightened political tension in Türkiye, with multiple opposition figures facing investigations, trials, or legal pressure.

Critics argue that laws on insulting the president and protecting personal data are increasingly being used to curb political dissent and investigative scrutiny. Supporters of the government counter that no one, including lawmakers, is above the law and that personal data protections must be enforced regardless of political affiliation.

The move to seek the lifting of Yavuzyılmaz’s immunity adds to a growing number of parliamentary motions targeting opposition MPs, including several figures close to CHP leader Özgür Özel.

What Happens Next?

The parliamentary process will determine the immediate future of the case. The TBMM’s Joint Committee on the Constitution and Justice is expected to review the motion before it is brought to a vote in the General Assembly.

If immunity is lifted, prosecutors would be free to proceed with a full criminal trial. If not, the case would remain suspended for the duration of Yavuzyılmaz’s term in parliament.

Either outcome is likely to further polarize Türkiye’s political landscape, as debates over transparency, accountability, and freedom of expression continue to intensify ahead of the next election cycle.

Source: HalkTV

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