Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Düzce Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, legal proceedings were initiated against CHP’s Akçakoca Mayor Fikret Albayrak on charges of “extortion”. In the investigation carried out by the prosecutor’s office, allegations that benefits were obtained from the municipality’s housing and licensing processes were examined.

MILLION DOLLAR CHECKS WERE IN THE FILE

During the examinations carried out within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that the 1 million lira check belonging to E.Ö. contained the endorsement of ABİTAŞ U Taşıma Nakliye İnşaat Taahhüt Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a subsidiary of Akçakoca Municipality. According to the information in the file, the person named GG, who presented the check of 1 million 500 thousand lira to the bank, said in his statement that he received the check in return for the sale of products from ABİTAŞ company.

ANOTHER COMPLAINT HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION

In another complaint in the file, a person named HP stated that construction activities were stopped and F.Ç. He claimed that 1 million lira was requested from him by Mayor Fikret Albayrak through his employee. The complainant claimed that construction activities were not allowed on the grounds that he did not pay.

“THEY MAY EXPORT ME TOO”

Drawing attention to the disciplinary processes within the party and the steps that the current administration can take, Özgür Özel claimed that the MPs in the group, including himself, may face the risk of expulsion. Özel said, “They can expel all of us from the party, I cannot say it is not possible. They can use this method for everyone in this hall, including me.” It was learned that he spoke as follows.

JOINT STATEMENT FROM CHP MUNICIPALITIES

In their joint statement, CHP metropolitan mayors stated that an extraordinary congress should be held within 45 days at the latest.

According to the statement made by the party, Özel, who was removed from his post as CHP Chairman as a precautionary measure by the decision of the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice, met with the metropolitan mayors of his party.

The meeting, which was held closed to the press, was attended by the Union of Municipalities of Turkey and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, Deputy Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality Güngör Geçer, Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mansur Yavaş, Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Büşra Özdemir, Mayor of Balıkesir Ahmet Akın, Mayor of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu, Mayor of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Ayşe Ünlüce, Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Municipality Cemil Tugay, Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality. Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Besim Dutlulu, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras and Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candan Yüceer attended.

After the meeting, a joint press release of the mayors was shared.

Düzce’s Akçakoca district was shaken by accusations of “extortion” against the CHP mayor. It was claimed that Akçakoca Mayor Fikret Albayrak demanded millions of lira in cash and checks in return for completing the settlement and licensing procedures of the constructions. President Albayrak was detained.

2.5 MILLION TL FOR SETTLEMENT
Allegedly, Akçakoca Municipal Council prevented the granting of occupancy to the construction site for which contractor E.Ö. had received a license. President Albayrak, E.Ö.’s father H.Ö. He reached the businessman through and said, “If you want the settlement works to be completed, you will give 2 million 500 thousand TL in cash.” When E.Ö. said that he did not have that much cash but could give a check, President Albayrak accepted this offer.

After the checks were delivered, “partial settlement” was given to the construction at jet speed. In the bank and document examinations carried out within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office; On the check for 1 million TL, which is the subject of the complaint of the contractor E.Ö., ABİTAŞ Ulatma Nakliye İnşaat Taahüt San., a subsidiary of Akçakoca Municipality. and Tic. Inc. It was determined that the company named had a turnover. The statement of the person named GG, who presented the remaining check of 1.5 million TL to the bank, confirmed the scandal. GG, who was heard as a witness, admitted that he received this check from a company called ABİTAŞ, a subsidiary of the municipality, in exchange for the sale of commercial products. Thus, it was revealed that the checks taken from the businessman under the name of “settlement” were used in the market to pay the debts of the municipal company.

CONSTRUCTION WAS STOPPED
As the investigation deepened, new victims caught in the bribery wheel emerged. Businessman HP also rushed to the prosecutor’s office, stating that the construction was stopped by the municipality using similar methods. HP, its employee F.Ç. He complained that President Albayrak, who reached him via , requested 1 million TL from him, but since he did not give the money, construction activities were not allowed.

HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Following a succession of similar complaints, Düzce Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office pressed the button for an operation within the scope of the crime of “extortion”. A simultaneous search was carried out at the house of Akçakoca Mayor Albayrak and the municipal subsidiary ABİTAŞ. Mayor Fikret Albayrak was detained.

Speaking to SABAH’s Tuba Kalçık, Burcu Köksal said: I have been doing politics against the AK Party for years, but I have never seen anything like this from the AK Party. But unfortunately, when I switched to the AK Party, I saw below-the-belt politics from the other side.

Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal, who switched from CHP to AK Party, made very special statements to SABAH.

There was a lot of talk about you resigning from CHP and joining the AK Party. Why did you make such a decision?

First of all, I have to say this, I am the child of teacher parents who have been involved in left-wing politics for years and have undertaken trade union duties. Love for the state and homeland comes first among our family’s priorities. The party you are in politics with is certainly important, but as Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, I am a person who grew up with the motto ‘When it comes to the homeland, the rest is details’ and was educated with religious values ​​and a perspective towards the homeland. I worked under Mr. Baykal, Kemal Bey and Özgür Bey. It was very nice to work with Mr. Kemal. A person whose name has never been associated with corruption, theft or immorality. After the congress, a new era began with Özgür Özel becoming the chairman. We said that we would work as chairman. But we could not work very well. There is another team that Özgür Özel wants to work with.

Of course, since we supported Kılıçdaroğlu, there was not much harmony. Meanwhile, my candidacy for Afyonkarahisar mayor came to the agenda. I guess it’s a bit like this, since I didn’t leave the group vice president position at that time, it was thought that if I became a candidate, the seat would become vacant. I was a candidate, but I believed that I would win, but the headquarters did not have faith at this point. In fact, on channels close to CHP, they started propaganda saying, ‘He can’t win, he gets 5% of the votes, who does he think he is, challenging İmamoğlu?’, in the direction of me not winning the election. I came, I stood in the election, I was elected with the votes of our fellow citizens in Afyonkarahisar, and I won. I felt politically alone because you were someone İmamoğlu expelled from the party and the party declared him as its presidential candidate. In this situation, I was completely alone. That’s why I left the CHP because I felt independent and joined the AK Party to do politics with our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose priorities and loyalty to my country I have always admired.

What upset you the most during this process?

When I was mayor of the Republican People’s Party, I was a very successful, very good, very decent mayor. When we joined the AK Party, we were accused of theft, corruption and our private lives. This is the point that makes me sad the most. No matter which political party or opinion you are in, I have stood against this slandering of a woman’s honor and below-the-belt politics all my life. There are examples in the past. I have been doing politics against the AK Party for years, but I have never seen anything like this from the AK Party. But today, when I switch to the AK Party, unfortunately, I see below-the-belt politics from the other side. This made me very sad.

So how did you feel when you first met our President?

He once approached me very closely, very warmly, very sincerely, and behaved in a fatherly manner. This made me very happy and surprised. As someone who has been involved in politics with him, I am very glad that he behaved so warmly and warmly. We talked for a long time about my hometown and general politics. I was very happy that he said that he would support me and stand behind me in serving my country. Because that’s what I want. And he always supports female politicians. This is also very valuable to me. Hopefully, we will provide good services to Afyon under the leadership of our President. I spoke with our President for nearly an hour. I have already told you our whole situation, our past. What we plan for Afyon in the future. He was also very pleased. My greatest wish is to work in peace from now on.

DID I BECOME BAD WHEN I SWITCHED TO AK PARTY?

Isn’t the messages sent by Özgür Özel at midnight saying ‘I’m coming to power in two years, you will beg’ not mobbing a female politician?

Yes, it is mobbing. I now leave it to the public to decide. Because this is not the first time for Özgür Özel, it was reported in the press that such messages were sent before me. I don’t find this right. Afterwards, he said from the podium, “I’m doing it right away.” So now, until yesterday, I was a very good, very successful, very decent mayor. Did I become bad when I wanted to do politics with our President and switched to the AK Party? You can criticize my transition. You can say something about this. You can object, but slandering people and criticizing their honor are very ugly things and should not be done.

WE MUST TRUST THE JUDICIAL

What would you like to say about the absolute nullity decision?

I am a mayor representing the AK Party. Therefore, it would not be right for me to make political comments about the absolute nullity decision against CHP. However, I can say this: the Turkish judiciary made a decision. Everyone must respect and comply with this decision.

Some activists in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which Israel unlawfully attacked in international waters, were treated in Istanbul after the ill-treatment and violence they suffered from Israeli soldiers. Activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were detained by Israel in international waters, were brought to Istanbul Airport the previous day by 3 planes belonging to THY. According to the information provided by the Global Sumud Fleet Crisis Desk, German citizen activist Doğan Engin Klaus of Turkish origin was treated in Istanbul for a fracture in his left heel, French activist Mathilde Pauline Mollet was injured due to a rubber bullet, Turkish activist Hüseyin Yılmaz was treated for a fracture in his left arm, and Mauritanian activist Ahmed Jaddau was treated in Istanbul for a fracture in his arm. 41 of the 53 injured activists were discharged. The Israeli army carried out a new attack on the fleet of 50 boats, including 428 activists from 44 countries, while it was sailing in international waters towards Gaza on May 18, and unlawfully detained the activists. There were 78 Turkish participants in the fleet. Israeli forces detained more than 40 boats carrying 500 activists, 78 of whom were Turkish citizens, from more than 44 countries. Sumud activists who want to break the blockade of Gaza say that they will not stop and will hit the road again, despite all Israel’s pirate attacks.

INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN STARTED
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an ex officio investigation into the violation of international law and the attack. The investigation; It was stated that it was initiated for the crimes of “Deprivation of Liberty”, “Hijacking and Detention of Transportation Vehicles”, “Aggravated Plunder”, “Damage to Property” and “Torment” within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the “Authority Rules” in Article 15 of the CMK and Articles 12 and 13 of the Turkish Penal Code. Deniz YUSUFOĞULLARI

The echoes of the successful completion of EFES-2026, one of the largest combined and joint exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces, continue. Israeli media, which closely follows the local and national defense industry products developed by Türkiye, also devoted extensive coverage to the EFES Exercise. Maariv newspaper announced the exercise to its readers with the title “Alarming Turkish exercise”. The news said, “As part of the massive EFES-2026 Exercise, Turkey demonstrated a large-scale amphibious operation, an airlift consisting of 21 helicopters, and the components of the ‘Steel Dome’. This exercise revealed Ankara’s power in NATO and its regional influence.”

‘NOT JUST A MESSAGE’
In the analysis, which drew attention to Türkiye’s progress in defense technologies, it was evaluated that “Those who have plans against Türkiye should sit down and think once again after what they see. Ankara’s message is clear. They are strengthening and renewing their defense systems technologically every day. The components of the Steel Dome, which is the heart of air defense, were also actively exhibited. The Turks continue to advance without stepping back.” The article said, “Ankara is no longer satisfied with words. The EFES Exercise, which intimidates the world with the participation of military power, clearly reveals the power that Türkiye has.”

Türkiye IN SERBIA
The “NATOSerbia 2026” military exercise, which started on May 11 in the Borovac Training Area in southern Serbia and with the participation of the Turkish Armed Forces, continues. In the news in the Israeli press, attention was also drawn to the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8.

FOREIGN SOLDIERS ARE SATISFIED
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) shared the opinions of Brazilian and Latvian soldiers participating in the EFES-2026 Exercise. The soldier who participated in the exercise on behalf of Brazil said, “It is a great opportunity to get to know the Turkish army and other allied armies and forces here. Because we know that this is a joint exercise. It is very valuable for us to learn how you carry out combined and joint operations. We loved this place and thank the Turkish army for inviting us here.” ANKARA