Imamoğlu Responds to CHP Congress Vote-Buying Probe from Prison: “This Is a Betrayal of Justice”

Ekrem Imamoğlu, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) presidential candidate, gave a statement via SEGBİS from Silivri Prison in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged vote-buying at the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on November 4–5, 2023.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had named 86 suspects in the probe, including Imamoğlu. In his testimony on May 2, Imamoğlu responded to all questions with a single statement, strongly denouncing the investigation as a politically motivated attack.

“To place slander, gossip, and political orders on the scales of justice is not just a betrayal of individuals—it is a direct assault on the will of the people and our democracy.”

Imamoğlu: “This Is a Script, and the Judiciary Is Being Made Its Pawn”

Refusing to answer each question individually, Imamoğlu criticized the repetitive use of “non-credible witnesses”, who he claimed are strategically reused across political cases.

“These so-called witnesses are brought out again and again in new files—not to serve justice, but to carry out a political operation,” he said.

He also questioned the integrity of the judiciary:

“What kind of legal system declares these characters ‘credible witnesses’ without investigating who coached them and to what end?”

“This Is Legal Degradation and Moral Collapse”

Imamoğlu warned that this case is not just about legal irregularities but also about eroding public trust in the justice system:

“The justice system is being used as a weapon of politics, and silence in the face of this makes accomplices of all.”

Context: Political Tensions and Judicial Controversy

• The case stems from allegations that delegates were paid to vote during CHP’s internal elections.

• Imamoğlu’s imprisonment has become a flashpoint in Türkiye’s political and judicial landscape, with critics viewing it as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures.

• He remains one of the most popular opposition leaders, especially following his increased public support after the March 19 “judicial intervention”, which analysts say backfired politically.