Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay, commenting on the ongoing 'corruption' investigation in Ankara and Istanbul, said that this was a political operation. Atalay also touched upon the subject of the detained BDP MPs, saying that the rejection of their release by local courts would be corrected at the Constitutional Court and that the door that had opened for CHP MP Mustafa Balbay would also be opened for the BDP MPs.

As tension between the government and Gülen movement escalated with the arrests of ministers' sons, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay took part in the 'Ankara Agenda' programme on TGRT last night. Commenting on the corruption investigation, Atalay stressed that they had always fought against corruption, injustice and illegality, adding: "3 separate operations and investigations have been combined to make more noise, to create a greater effect. In the end the courts will make the judgment. Those who have behaved erroneously will pay the price. We are a powerful party and a strong government. We cannot accept unjust accusations."
Atalay described the arrests as a "political operation", adding:

"Political and social developments are not one dimensional. Our attitude is clear. We have many members. We have always weeded out those who have acted wrongly and this is how it will be in this instance. Those at fault will pay the price. But this is not only a struggle against corruption, it is also a comprehensive political operation."

Beşir Atalay also commented on the situation of detained MPs, emphasising that the process was taking time, but that the rejection of the release of BDP MPs by local courts would be corrected at the Constitutional Court and that the door that had opened for CHP MP Mustafa Balbay would also be opened for them.