Professional volleyball player Derya Çayırqan, whose name was mentioned in the case filed against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has vehemently denied allegations regarding financial transactions and her personal life in connection with Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Modern.az reports that Çayırqan stated on her social media account that the accusations made against her do not reflect the truth.
The volleyball player noted that her long professional sports career, earned through income and sponsorship agreements, has established her own financial stability, and she does not require such external funding:
“In recent days, false, baseless, and entirely fabricated allegations about me have been circulating on social media platforms and in some other media outlets.
All these allegations are immoral, defamatory, and openly target my personal rights. Consequently, both my family and I have been deeply affected by this process. However, due to the attempt to create a false perception in the public about my life and professional career, which I have built with years of hard work, I felt the need to issue a written statement for the first time.
I have been a professional athlete for many years. In addition to my club income and bonuses, I have also had sponsorship and advertising collaborations. Therefore, the amount of money entering and leaving my account is a natural consequence of my profession and income structure. For this reason, it is not true, as alleged, that I received money from any individual or politician, nor is there any situation that would require me to do so. All allegations regarding a personal relationship with Ekrem İmamoğlu or that I am his girlfriend are entirely defamatory. Such a situation has never occurred.
It is impossible for me to remain silent in the face of such serious defamation. A criminal case has been filed against those who made and spread these allegations, and a lawsuit has been initiated for compensation for moral damages. This is because this situation is not only an attack personally targeting me, but also a blatant injustice directed at a woman's work, reputation, and life.”
