PodcastProsecutor slammed for preventing Demirtaş's release visits Erdoğan in presidential palace
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman who has been slammed for delaying writing the indictment into former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş visited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the presidential palace after his wedding. Kocaman has been staunchly against releasing Demirtaş, who was jailed on Nov. 4, 2016 on charges related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
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A chief public prosecutor who has been slammed for delaying writing the indictment into former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş visited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the presidential palace.
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman, who recently also stirred controversy for going on a luxurious vacation in a private helicopter, visited Erdoğan after his wedding ceremony.
Pictures of Kocaman and the bride, Ayça Dursun, were interpreted as the current state of the judiciary that's dependent on the government and Erdoğan.
While the couple received a wedding gift from Erdoğan, Dursun was seen to be wearing a more modest bridal gown in the palace, but a different one at the actual ceremony.
Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Education Minister Ziya Selçuk, Court of Cassation head Mehmet Akarca, Council of State head Zeki Yiğit, Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) head Muharrem Akkaya and Union of Turkish Bar Associations head Metin Feyzioğlu were among the witnesses.
ECHR defends its president's controversial visit to TurkeyKocaman has been staunchly against releasing Demirtaş, who was jailed on Nov. 4, 2016 on charges related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Turkey denied a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling for his immediate release.
Additional 'terror' investigation
In May 2018, Kocaman launched an additional "terror" investigation into Demirtaş over his defense at the court.
"Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is the one carrying out the operation against me. You'll answer to courts," Demirtaş had said in his defense, adding that Kocaman and his deputy are responsible for preventing his release.
"We filed a complaint against you. God is greater than the palace you trust," the former co-chair said.
Most recently, Kocaman was slammed for going on a luxurious vacation in the holiday resort of Bodrum.
HDP Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş on Sept. 15 submitted a parliamentary inquiry on the vacation, asking how such a luxurious holiday was made possible.
"Is this holiday opportunity a gift for the prosecutor's decisions on Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ," Beştaş asked, referring to former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ.
Demirtaş lists suggestions for an enhanced parliamentary system, stresses the need for democracy