Silivri Mayor Arrested Amid Corruption Probe, Claims Political Siege

Silivri Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu has been arrested following an investigation into alleged corruption within the municipality, with 10 out of 18 detained individuals taken into custody. The arrest marks a significant escalation in a case that Balcıoğlu, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), vehemently denies.

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We are facing a new and severe phase of the political operation being carried out against me, my family, my friends, my labor, and the pure will that the people of Silivri demonstrated at the ballot box since Friday.

In a statement released on social media after his arrest, Balcıoğlu rejected the allegations, particularly those concerning the purchase of a property for his father, who passed away when Balcıoğlu was 12. He described the accusations as slander and part of a "political operation" targeting him, his family, his colleagues, and the will of the Silivri people expressed through the ballot box.

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This process is not just a judicial process targeting me. This process is an open injustice targeting the will of the people of Silivri, our understanding of people-centric municipalism, the labor we have put forth on the path of Conscience Municipalism, the values of our father's home, the Republican People's Party, and the hope we have nurtured together in this city.

Balcıoğlu characterized the investigation as an attempt to poison public opinion, fueled by unsubstantiated claims presented as news. He argued that the judicial process is being politicized and used as a tool against opposition-led municipalities, citing a pattern of similar accusations leveled against CHP municipalities in Istanbul.

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Don't ever be sad. Never be disheartened. Never lose hope. Don't bow your head. My forehead is clear. My head is held high. My conscience is at ease!

"My conscience is clear!" Balcıoğlu declared, maintaining his innocence and emphasizing that no definitive conviction has been made. He asserted that his arrest is not a judgment and that no crime has been proven. He vowed to remain steadfast, urging his supporters not to lose hope and to keep their heads held high, stating, "I have not bowed, and I will not bow."

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Everyone be assured: Arrest is not a conviction. There is no final conviction decision against me! There is no verdict! There is no proven crime!