First statement from Bakırköy Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu after the operation:

Following the operation against Bakırköy Municipality, Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu made a statement to the municipality employees.

Stating that there were family members among those detained, Ovalıoğlu reacted to the way the operation was carried out and said that they would continue to carry out their duties.

According to the statement made by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 57 of the 68 people for whom a detention order was issued within the scope of the investigation against the municipality were detained.

Among those detained were Ovalıoğlu's 86-year-old father Mustafa Özdemir, his uncle Metin Soğuksu, deputy mayors Nurcan Alan, Arda Karadağ, Cemalettin Özdemir and Abdülhamit Pehlivan and Ali Rıza Akyüz.

“MY FAMILY NEVER NEEDED A LAWYER”

Stating that the detention procedures were carried out in the presence of families and children, Ovalıoğlu noted that the process could also be carried out by calling the relatives to testify.

Ovalıoğlu used the following statements in his statement:

"While these people were able to go and testify every time they were called, they were taken into custody, next to their families and children, by knocking on their doors, by searching their homes, and taking them into custody. They were taken into custody. Our four vice presidents, our unit managers, our employees and our families... They say what's the matter? They ask, 'Sir, do you have a lawyer? I have never had a lawyer before. I have never needed one. My family has never had a lawyer. We have never needed a lawyer.'

“WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE SAME DETERMINATION”

Stating that the searches in the municipality have been completed, Ovalıoğlu emphasized that public services will continue.

Pointing out in his statement that the operation may have overshadowed other developments on the country's agenda, Ovalıoğlu continued his words as follows:

"Unfortunately, Bakırköy has become an agenda today. Bakırköy had to be on the agenda. Because in the current country's agenda, Bakırköy had to be on the agenda today and cover up other agendas."

Stating that the searches are over, Ovalıoğlu said, "We will continue to do our jobs with the same determination and for a bright future for our country, with proper state decorum and public seriousness. We are all on duty."