Turkey Detains Opposition Mayors in Corruption Crackdown

Turkish authorities detained two opposition mayors and at least 29 municipal officials during a series of anti-corruption and embezzlement operations between Wednesday and Thursday. The Government of Turkey launched raids across multiple cities, targeting municipalities run by the Republican People's Party (CHP).

In Istanbul, police raided 11 addresses on Wednesday, detaining Üsküdar district Mayor Sinem Dedetas and five associates. The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating bribery and extortion related to building and occupancy permits, alleging that the municipality required contractors to sign consultancy contracts to secure these documents.

On Thursday, authorities raided the Etimesgut Municipality in Ankara and detained Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu as part of an embezzlement investigation that began in March. In a separate operation in Usak province, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the detention of 17 officials accused of fraudulently registering people as employees of municipal subsidiaries to obtain social security benefits, a scheme estimated to cost 16.86 million Turkish liras.

The Republican People's Party characterized these investigations as politically motivated legal actions. The Turkish government denied these claims, maintaining that the judiciary operates independently.