Harsh criticism from opposition leader against suspension of Istanbul district mayor

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed suspension of an Istanbul district mayor from his main opposition party, saying that the decision was unlawful. Battal İlgezdi, the mayor of Istanbul’s Ataşehir district was suspended over corruption allegations by the Interior Ministry on Dec. 8.

Speaking at a press confrerence on Dec. 9, Kılıçdaroğlu said İlgezdi was acquitted from those alegations before.

“This press conference is never a defense. It is for information purposes. We have no account to give. Our mayor went to the prosecutor’s office and applied for himself. He has been acquitted in all investigations,” he said.

Mayor İlgezdi had denied the allegations when they first surfaced in 2015 and asked the prosecutor’s office to “investigate” the claims against him.

SOURCE: HURRIYET