Turkey detains another opposition mayor among dozens of suspects in crackdown

Turkish police detained ​the opposition mayor of Ankara's Etimesgut ‌district and 51 other suspects on Thursday in a graft investigation, the Interior Ministry said.

Mayor Erdal Besikcioglu was among 37 municipality employees detained after police raided the municipality in western Ankara. The interior ministry said detention warrants had been issued for 55 suspects, including 18 company officials, while three suspects remained at large. It said the investigation involves allegations of membership in a criminal organisation, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, fraud in public procurement and abuse of office.

The operation is the latest in an unprecedented legal crackdown targeting municipalities run by the main opposition to President Tayyip Erdogan. On Wednesday, police also detained the opposition mayor of Istanbul's Uskudar district and five others over alleged irregularities in building and occupancy permits. The opposition has rejected the accusations since 2024, calling the investigations politically motivated, while the government insists the judiciary is acting independently.