Türkiye's Constitutional Court rejects jurisdiction challenge in CHP congress case

Türkiye’s Constitutional Court (AYM) has rejected a request to annul legal provisions cited by Ankara’s 26th Criminal Court of First Instance in a case related to alleged irregularities at the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) 38th Ordinary Congress, ruling there was no applicable law in the matter.

"CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel and main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu attend 38th CHP Ordinary Congress, Ankara, Türkiye, Nov. 5, 2023. (AA Photo)

Court dismisses jurisdiction challenge

The High Court examined the Ankara 26th Criminal Court’s petition to strike down the Criminal Procedure Code rules on “lack of jurisdiction” decisions.

It concluded that the provisions could not be applied in the current case, leading to the dismissal of the challenge.

Ankara’s 26th Criminal Court had previously ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the trial of 12 individuals, including former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and transferred the case to a higher criminal court.

Chairman of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu (2nd R) and CHP candidate for chairman, Ozgur Ozel (2nd L) attend the 38th Ordinary Congress of Republican Peoples Party at the Ankara Sports Hall in Ankara, Türkiye, November 04, 2023. (Photo: AA)

The Ankara 3rd High Criminal Court upheld the “lack of jurisdiction” finding, prompting an appeal to the Ankara Regional Court of Justice.

The 5th Criminal Chamber of the Regional Court later ordered the case to return to the 26th Criminal Court for trial.

The lower court then argued that the legal provisions regarding “lack of jurisdiction” were unconstitutional and filed a challenge with the Constitutional Court, scheduling a hearing for Nov. 4.

September 10, 2025 12:49 PM GMT+03:00