Debate continues over our newspaper’s report, “Scandal at Kılıçdaroğlu’s badge ceremony: Hundreds of extras were brought to the event for a fee”, which claimed that the hall was filled with paid extras at the CHP membership enrolment ceremony in Istanbul attended by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The story, which quickly became one of the public’s most important talking points and garnered millions of views, has made its way onto the national agenda. Whilst millions of people shared the story in support, the discredited team appointed to lead the CHP and their supporters resorted to lies and slander, accusing the CHP of a “conspiracy”.

New footage shared from the event venue and a statement issued by one of the agencies transporting the extras have once again confirmed the accuracy of the report. Ömer İne, owner of Merss Production, confirmed that he had provided extras for the event, whilst stating that he had not received any payment from the CHP and had carried out the work entirely of his own volition.

The agency’s statement read: “Absolutely no financial payment or fee was received from the CHP Headquarters or the CHP Provincial Directorate in return for the organisation and technical support provided. Our work was carried out not on the instructions of any institution, authority or provincial directorate, but entirely on the basis of friendship and voluntary service. We operate on the principle of working from the heart and with conviction, not on the basis of instructions. We are saddened to observe attempts to portray this support we have given to our friend and colleague as some sort of commercial or political bargain, and we present the truth to you in its simplest form.” Following the public’s confirmation of the news’s accuracy, the Butlancı team began to alter their statements. The absolute nullity team, which had attacked BirGün and reporter Ebru Çelik with slander and insults, began to signal an operation carried out from within.

AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED

Meanwhile, following a complaint by Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as a trustee to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation.

A statement from the Public Prosecutor’s Office read: “Following the complaint submitted to our office by the complainant’s legal representative regarding allegations that individuals who were not actually members were brought to the CHP event held in Sarıyer through an agreement with a casting agency, and the publications made in this regard, an investigation has been launched. Once the enquiries are concluded, the statements of the individuals named in the complaint will be taken.”

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Ajans doğruladı soruşturma açıldı, published in BirGün newspaper on July 28, 2026.