* Photo: AA - Archive
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Ahmet Özel, the attorney of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has announced that they have filed a lawsuit against main opposition Republican Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, demanding 2 million lira (approx. 270 thousand USD) in non-pecuniary damages over his allegations that Erdoğan has money abroad.
In his interview to daily Cumhuriyet yesterday (August 17), CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu briefly made the following allegations about Erdoğan:
"If the Erdoğan family loves the homeland, they should bring their wealth abroad to Turkey. They have billions of money.
"I am sure of this: When [US President Donald] Trump said, 'We will look into your wealth, your assets, come to your senses,' Erdoğan could not say a word. We also know it very well that the Erdoğan family betrays Turkey about taxes. The thing about the Isle of Man was this.
"The decree foreseeing taxes on money coming from tax havens has not been issued since 2006. Because the Erdoğan family does not want to pay taxes to the State of the Republic of Turkey."
Attorney Özel: He does not have money abroad
Erdoğan's attorney Ahmet Özel has released a written statement in response to the above remarks, saying, "CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu once again attacked our dear Mr. President and his family members with lies and smears in a newspaper, alleging that there was money abroad."
Accordingly, the attorney has announced that "a legal action has been taken by filing a suit for non-pecuniary damages of 2 million TRY on behalf of President Erdoğan and his family members."
Further in his statement, Özel has said, "We would like to once again underline that President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family members do not have any money abroad."
Kılıçdaroğlu: File your suit at the US Congress
CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has responded to the lawsuit on social media. Sharing a brief message on his Twitter account, he has said:
"Both the address of the lawsuit and the requested money are wrong. You should have filed the lawsuit at the US Congress and requested 2 million dollars, not 2 million TRY!" (EKN/SD)
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