A Turkish appeals court on Thursday annulled the congress, at which Ozel was elected, citing unspecified irregularities. ​

In his place, the court reinstated former CHP Chairman Kemal ​Kilicdaroglu, a divisive figure who lost to President Tayyip Erdogan ⁠in elections earlier that year.

The CHP condemned the ruling as ​a “judicial coup”, and Ozel promised to fight it through legal appeals and to ​personally remain “day and night” in the CHP’s Ankara headquarters.

The Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office said the suspects were detained across seven provinces over allegations of interference in ​delegates’ voting during the 2023 congress, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported ​on Saturday.

They face charges of “violating the law on political parties”, “accepting bribes”, and “laundering assets ‌derived ⁠from crime”, the statement said.

Search and seizure operations were carried out at the suspects’ addresses in the provinces of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis and Malatya.

Analysts said this week’s court ruling, seen as ​a test of ​Turkey’s shaky balance ⁠between democracy and autocracy, could prolong Erdogan’s 23-year rule even as the country risks another setback in ​its long battle against soaring inflation.

The next national election ​is ⁠set for 2028, but would need to be brought forward if Erdogan, 72, and facing a term limit, wants to run again.

The court ⁠ruling ​was seen as raising the chances of ​an early vote.

The government denies criticism that it uses courts to target political rivals, ​saying the judiciary is independent.