BTTDD: Sham Elections in Constantinople Favoring Appointees

EXCLUSIVE: The “Controlled” Change of Guard at BTTDD – An “Appointed” President in a Collapsing Association

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, the 57th Regular General Assembly of the Association of Solidarity of Western Thrace Turks (BTTDD) was held at the Zeytinburnu Cultural Center. In a process that resembled more an “appointment” than an electoral contest, lawyer Batuhan Kaşifoğlu emerged as the new General President, being the sole candidate on a prearranged list.

The End of the “Unwanted” Hasan Küçük

The departure of Hasan Küçük from the leadership marks a period of complete delegitimization. Küçük, who has been banned from entering Greece due to his anti-Greek and propagandistic activities, leaves behind an Association sunk in disrepute. His attempt in the opening speech to present himself as a “guardian” of the minority collided with harsh reality: he can no longer maintain a physical presence on the ground in Thrace, having become a “disposable” tool for Ankara’s mechanisms that are now seeking a “new, clean face” to continue their irredentist narrative.

Accusations of “Usurpation of Will” and Fraud

The report reveals unprecedented backstage manipulations. As early as April 30, ten days before the elections, the official BTTDD Facebook page had “declared” Kaşifoğlu as the next President by publishing a statement listing the branch offices that support him.

This move triggered a storm of reactions and an official protest (Protesto) from members and officials, who denounced:

• Violation of the Statute: Pre-announcing the result nullifies the very meaning of the General Assembly.

• Member Intimidation: Using the Association’s logo and resources in favor of one candidate constitutes an “abuse of power.”

• Abstention: Significant officials refused to participate, denouncing the “mortgaging of members’ free will.”

The Collapse of the Bursa Mechanisms

The “disappearance” of the previously powerful Bursa branch is of particular interest. While four years ago they boasted about 3,500 members and “heavy names” (Agir Abiler) who would control developments, their presence at this year’s assembly was scarce.

• Propaganda with Buses:
  To fill the hall, dozens of municipal buses were mobilized under the pretext of “religious tours” to the mosques of Constantinople.

• Internal War:
  Accusations of financial irregularities (“theft files”) have been taken to the courts, while mudslinging over “selffish” and “traitors” reveals the level of internal confrontation.

Editor’s Comment: The “Key Under the Doormat”

Batuhan Kaşifoğlu’s election is not a sign of strength but a gesture of desperation. The new President begins his tenure under the guardianship of political circles and with the stigma of being “appointed.”

When an Association needs “free bus excursions” to gather 500 people, while it supposedly represents thousands, the end is near. The members’ warning that “within one term you will leave the key under the doormat and leave” now sounds like the most likely prophecy.

• Source: bttdd.org.tr / Correspondents / Information Network Editor: Nikos Arvanitis

Composition of the New Board of Directors

• General President: Batuhan Kaşifoğlu (Batuhan Kaşifoğlu)

• Regular Members:
  Yüksel Öztürk, Mümin Durmuş, Özgür Egeli, Hakan Güler, Nalan Hacıimam, Gülay Özyavuz, Bilgenur Yıldırım Uzun, Halil Ateş, İlkay Şehrin, Behlül Kozluca.

• Audit Committee: Besim İsmailbaşa, Ahmet Dedeağaçlı, Bülent Vatansever.

Source: TAXIARHISpress