TRNC Fake Diploma Case: Özersay Asks Whether Parliament Speaker Gave Evidence to Police

People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay publicly asked whether TRNC Parliament Speaker Ziya Öztürkler gave evidence to the police in the case involving fake diplomas that, according to the applicants, were issued in exchange for citizenship, or refused to do so by citing parliamentary immunity.

Özersay recalled that claims about a “fake diploma in exchange for citizenship” scheme emerged during the court proceedings: they were contained in correspondence submitted as evidence in the case and in witness statements. In January 2026, the People’s Party filed a complaint with the police demanding that this information be investigated.

According to Özersay, on 3 March 2026, the TRNC Police General Directorate confirmed in writing that an investigation had been launched. At one of the recent court hearings, police officers verbally confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.

Özersay stressed that immunity does not prevent an official from giving evidence voluntarily, and cited himself as an example: he gave evidence to the police when he served as deputy prime minister and foreign minister and also enjoyed immunity.

In his view, no one should hide behind immunity, and the public has the right to know whether the speaker of parliament cooperated with the investigation.