Turkey's Top Court Rejects Appeal Over Minister's Damages Claim; Apologies Demanded

Turkey's Constitutional Court has dismissed a personal appeal filed by the Republican People's Party (CHP) concerning former Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak's claim for moral damages. The court's decision has prompted calls for an apology from politicians, academics, and journalists who had persistently raised questions about the whereabouts of "128 billion dollars." These figures argue that the legal processes have failed to substantiate the claims, which were a prominent topic for many years. AK Party İzmir Deputy Şebnem Bursalı Aksoy stated that the CHP's attempt to create a narrative against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Berat Albayrak has once again collapsed. Associate Professor Alpaslan Baki Ertekin asserted that an institutional defamation campaign was waged against Albayrak, and those who defended these allegations for years owe an apology. Journalist Zafer Şahin noted that the campaign led by the CHP was reviewed by local courts, appellate courts, and the Constitutional Court, with all three stages concluding that the accusations could not be proven. Journalist Ferhat Murat added that the court's decision reveals that those who led the "128 billion dollars" campaign were either lying or misled. Former Ağrı Mayor Savcı Sayan commented that the smear campaign based on the "128 billion dollars" allegation has been dismantled by court rulings. Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç affirmed that the righteousness of the struggle has been re-registered. The ruling is seen by Albayrak's supporters as a vindication against what they describe as politically motivated accusations.

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The CHP's attempt to create a narrative against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Berat Albayrak has once again collapsed.