Breaking news… Within the scope of the extortion investigation carried out by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, a detention order was issued this morning for 13 people, including CHP’s Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan. While 9 people, including Özcan, were detained in their homes in the dawn operation carried out by the gendarmerie teams, the search for the 4 fugitive suspects continues.

AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN STARTED FOR THE CRIME OF EXTRACTION

Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the suspects extorted bribes from the managers of 6 large chain markets in Bolu between April and November 2024 and that Bolu Bel. He launched an investigation against the suspects, claiming that they committed the crime of extortion by benefiting the Joint Stock Company. In line with the findings of the investigation, detention orders were issued for 13 suspects.

BREAKING NEWS: Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan was detained within the scope of bribery investigation | Video

9 SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY

Here are the names taken into custody: CHP’s Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, Municipal Council Member Ali Sarıyıldız, Municipal Company Official Ergün Temel, Deputy Police Chief Hakan Yılmaz, Municipal Council Member Cahit Görüş, Municipal Council Member Mehmet Ağan, Municipal Council Member Naim Ayhan, Editor-in-Chief Tahsin Arslan.

4 FUGITIVE SUSPECTS ARE WANTED

The 4 fugitive names for which the search continues are: Mayor of the Municipal Council H. Ekrem Serin, Deputy Director of Zoning and Urbanization Yasin Bargaç, Municipal Council Member Buse Özkan, Municipal Council Member Sinan Pekcan.

In the statement read by AK Party Ankara Provincial Deputy Chairman and Head of Human Rights Cemal Güngör, it was stated that February 28 served the same dark purpose as other interventions in Turkish political history. Güngör said, “In terms of its purpose, February 28 is what May 27, September 12 and July 15 are. In fact, this process is a heavy blow not only to politics but also to society, the consequences of which are planned to last for generations.”

EMPHASIS ON THE WAVE OF OPPRESSION

In the statement, it was reminded that the tanks were used against the will of the nation during the February 28 period and the following statements were made:

The elected government was dismissed, a great wave of persecution was initiated against religious people, especially headscarved women,

It was emphasized that citizens were excluded from state institutions due to their religious sensitivities.

“WE DROPPED THE GUARDIAN FOCUS ONE BY ONE”

Drawing attention to the democratization steps taken during the AK Party government, Güngör stated that the tutelage centers were eliminated and Türkiye was brought to the standard of democracy it deserved. However, he pointed out that some of the attitudes towards headscarves and local clothes recently have protected the “risk of the February 28 mentality resurging.”

“OUR STRUGGLE WITH THE Türkiye CENTURY VISION WILL CONTINUE”

Stating that the fight against the coup mentality is a “fight for rights and great Türkiye”, Cemal Güngör completed the statement with the following words:

“Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we will continue our will to stand tall against the coupist mentality. We will always keep the understanding of national will alive in order to never encounter similar processes again in our history of democracy.”

“İZMİR PORT IS NOT BEING DISPOSED”

Bursalı Aksoy, who also made evaluations regarding the operation transfer of Izmir Port, stated that the operation transfer does not mean the transfer of ownership and that the port will continue to serve the economy of Izmir and Türkiye.

Expressing that the aim is to increase the capacity and competitiveness of the port, Bursalı Aksoy noted that the “divestment” perception that is being tried to be created in the public opinion is not correct.

In his statement, Bursalı Aksoy criticized the politics of perception and emphasized that the discussions should be conducted on legal grounds, not ideological.

“IF YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IZMIR”

AK Party member Bursalı Aksoy stated that the people of Izmir are faced with a chronic CHP problem and said that CHP figures should get rid of their efforts to create perception and start producing services. At the end of his speech, Bursalı Aksoy addressed CHP members:

“If you really want to protect Izmir, if you want to serve the people of Izmir; implement infrastructure projects so that our citizens do not fish in the streets after every rain. Prevent leaks in water lines, no one will be left without water when the water in the dams runs out. Collect garbage from the streets so that our children will not face the threat of the epidemic. Lower the exorbitant prices in basic services and let the whole city breathe a sigh of relief.”

In the program moderated by YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, names from different cities of Europe who have achieved success in academia, science, medicine, law, civil society and business world shared their experiences.

WE ARE TOGETHER WITH THE REAL HEROES OF THE STORY

Speaking at the opening of the program, Turus greeted the participants from all over Europe and said, “Our proud paintings from all over Europe… Welcome all of you to the ‘Success Stories’ meeting, you have brought joy.” Stating that they are together with the leading names of the Turkish diaspora, who have reached the top in medicine, law, academia, business world, art and many other fields, Turus stated that the existence in Europe, the future, how the glass ceilings were broken and the legacy to be left to the generations will be discussed. Stating that they “left the protocol conversations outside the door”, Turus said, “Today, we are on our own. We wanted to get along in a friendly, natural environment by listening to each other, making eye contact, and commiserating.” Emphasizing that they are together with the names who wrote the “Success Story” of European Turks, Turus said, “Both sides of our table are very strong.”

THERE IS A SERIOUS CULTURAL CORRUPTION EXPERIENCED IN THE WORLD

Speaking at the panel, Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Dissemination Foundation, stated that he was happy to see that the Turkish diaspora has reached an assertive point in Europe. Pointing out the importance of non-governmental organizations in Türkiye working more closely with Turks in Europe, Erdoğan said that mutual interaction should be increased. Drawing attention to the identity issue of societies, Erdoğan stated that there is a serious cultural corruption in the world and noted that societies being at peace with their own cultures and identities will provide self-confidence and bring relations to a more balanced basis. Stating that healthy communication cannot be established if one society claims superiority over another, Erdoğan emphasized that everyone should protect their own values ​​and respect the characteristics of others. Referring to the importance of Turks in the diaspora preserving their identities while becoming respected citizens in the countries they live in, Erdoğan said, “Success is of course success, but success in the diaspora with its identity is a greater success.” While the panel also discussed the issues of smearing Türkiye and encouraging migration abroad, Erdoğan said that young people were affected by dirty politics.

AK Party Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Yayman, in his post on his NSosyal account, stated that February 28 was a black mark on democracy. “The February 28 process, which is a dark page in our history of democracy, has gone down in history as a symbol of the pressure on the nation’s faith, identity and choice.” Making his evaluation, Yayman noted that the mentality that tried to overshadow the will of the nation at that time tried to stop Türkiye’s democratic march by ignoring the values ​​of the society.

Emphasizing that the essence of these lands is not surrender, but wisdom, Yayman stated that the nation has defended democracy with patience, determination and faith, and has clearly shown that the order that the tutelage centers want to establish cannot be permanent.

“THERE WAS NO POWER THAN THE POWER OF OUR NATION”

AK Party Deputy Chairman Yayman said in his post: “While erasing the traces of this understanding over the years, Turkey has stepped into a new era with a strong leadership and a determined political will. The strong will demonstrated by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been an important turning point in the construction of a Türkiye that is at peace with the values of the nation. As a matter of fact, on the night of the July 15 coup attempt, it was seen once again that this nation has the courage and determination to stand tall against every hand that reaches out to its will. Today “Our duty is to defend our democracy, freedoms and the will of the nation more strongly, without forgetting what happened in the past, and to institutionalize democratic reforms. Because the real owner of this country and the one who will determine its future is no power greater than the power of our nation.” He included his statements.

RTÜK President Mehmet Daniş said, “Turkey, which was expected to get lost in the misty labyrinth of February 28, has now turned into a collective mind that draws the map of self-confidence, not fear, will, not tutelage, reason and justice, not chaos, and marches towards the horizon of a Terror-Free, Great and Strong Turkey that brings the nation and the state together in the same direction.” he said.

Türkiye, which was expected to get lost in the misty labyrinth of February 28, is now a country that draws the map of self-confidence not fear, will not tutelage, reason and justice not chaos; A collective mind that brings the nation and the state together in the same direction and marches towards the horizon of a Terror-Free, Great and Strong Türkiye… pic.twitter.com/OQYroTsyfY

— Mehmet DANİŞ (@Danis_Mehmet_) February 28, 2026

RTÜK President Daniş said, “The anti-democratic environment, which was said to last a thousand years, has been buried in the darkness of history with the foresight of our nation and the leadership of our President. While we keep the dark days of the recent past in our memory, I would like to emphasize once again that there can be no power over the national will.” He included his statements.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan removed all the supports of the dark February 28 period with the circular numbered 2010/27 published during his time as Prime Minister. RTÜK President Mehmet Daniş also included that circular in his message.