Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara Released After 14 Months; Hopes for Colleagues' Freedom

Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara has been released from Silivri's Marmara Prison, ending a 14-month detention period. He was met by a jubilant crowd of supporters and family members upon his release.

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I am happy to be reunited with my family, my wife, my loved ones, my friends, and Avcılar. But of course, our hearts are heavy. We left our presidents behind. Our vice presidents, our bureaucrats, our council members. I wish for all of them to be released as soon as possible, to regain their freedom and be reunited with their families.

"I am happy to be reunited with my family, my wife, my loved ones, my friends, and Avcılar," Çaykara stated, his voice tinged with emotion. "But of course, our hearts are heavy. We left our presidents behind. Our vice presidents, our bureaucrats, our council members. I wish for all of them to be released as soon as possible, to regain their freedom and be reunited with their families."

Çaykara and Seyhan Municipality Cleaning Affairs Director Özcan Zenger were granted release by the Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court following a review of their pre-trial detention. However, the court decided to keep other prominent figures in custody, including Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Adıyaman Deputy Mayor Ceyhan Kayhan, Avcılar Deputy Mayor Erhan Daka, and lawyer Celal Tekin.

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We will go home now. We will reunite with our family. Afterward, we will provide information.

Çaykara learned of his release decision through television. He expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him and his family during his incarceration. "We will go home now. We will reunite with our family. Afterward, we will provide information," he said, emphasizing that the legal proceedings against him are ongoing.

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Not only my son, but everyone's son... Many people are here, as my son said, half are still inside, hopefully, we will be much happier when we get them out too.