Erdoğan files petition for Kılıçdaroğlu to give testimony on political assassinations claims

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has filed a petition through his lawyer for main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to give his testimony regarding his claims on political assassinations being planned. 

This is the second time Erdoğan filed a petition through his lawyer Hüseyin Aydın to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office this month. 

The issue was brought to Turkey's agenda earlier this month by Kılıçdaroğlu who claimed that Erdoğan would seek all methods to cling to power in the next elections.

Kılıçdaroğlu said that his concerns stem from Erdoğan's very own remarks on the opposition. 

The Turkish President drew condemnation from the opposition after praising a verbal attack against right-wing Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener in the Black Sea province of Rize in May.

Akşener on May 20 was forced to cut her visit short to Rize, Erdoğan's hometown, after a pro-government group launched a verbal attack on her.

Speaking to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) a week after the attack, Erdoğan called Akşener "Mrs. Bride," referring to the İYİ Party leader's remarks on her husband being from Rize.

"She was taught a very fine lesson," Erdoğan said of the attack.

"These are your better days," the president noted.

Kılıçdaroğlu on Oct. 8 deemed the president's words "very dangerous" and noted that the government would try to mount tensions in the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections in 2023. 

"I'm sure that tension can be avoided if [the government] doesn't arm people to assassinate certain individuals. Political assassinations... I'm worried about these," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Shortly after, İYİ Party deputy leader Koray Aydın said that his party shares the same concerns. 

"We have also received reports of political assassinations," Aydın said on Oct. 10. "The government will have to pay a heavy price if there's such a scheme."

Erdoğan then filed his first petition on Oct. 15, asking the prosecutor's office to investigate the claims. The opposition politicians' claims are aimed at inciting fear and concern among the public, the petition read. 

He once again filed a petition on Oct. 27, asking prosecutors to "do what's necessary urgently." 

Footage of attack on Kılıçdaroğlu

Earlier, the Turkish President drew fury from the opposition once again, this time for showing the footage of a previous attack Kılıçdaroğlu while targeting him during the AKP's parliamentary group meeting. 

Kılıçdaroğlu slammed Erdoğan's move and said that he's not afraid of him.

"This individual made people watch the footage of the attack against me. He simply ordered some people to finish what was left unfinished," he said.

"I'm neither afraid of you nor your associates," the main opposition leader said defiantly.

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