Turkish Opposition Mayor Arrested Amid Bid-Rigging Investigation

ISTANBUL: Riza Akpolat, the mayor of Besiktas, one of Turkiye’s prominent opposition strongholds, was arrested on Monday in connection with a bid-rigging investigation, Istanbul prosecutors confirmed.

Akpolat, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained at his summer residence in Edremit on Turkiye’s west coast, according to local news agency DHA. Besiktas, a key entertainment hub in Istanbul and home to the famous soccer club of the same name, has been under CHP control for years.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accused a criminal organization of manipulating municipal tender processes through bribery to secure contracts for specific companies. The investigation, which lasted three months, led to warrants for 47 individuals, including Akpolat and other municipal officials.

Political Reactions

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest, calling it “a new link in the chain of lawlessness in the politicized justice system.” He pledged full support for Akpolat. Similarly, Istanbul’s CHP mayor Ekrem Imamoglu criticized the raid, describing it as an attempt to influence public perception rather than a genuine legal process.

“The procedure of those who do not have legal intentions cannot be legal,” Imamoglu said, highlighting the political undertones of the investigation.

Scope of Investigation

Prosecutors allege that the bid-rigging scheme was orchestrated by Aziz Ihsan Aktas, who, along with 24 other suspects, faces charges of establishing and leading a criminal organization, bribery, bid-rigging, tax violations, and money laundering. Police have already detained several suspects and searched Besiktas municipal offices, verifying staff identities during the process.

Akpolat, 42, who was elected mayor in 2019 with a landslide victory, faces charges of criminal organization membership, bribery, bid-rigging, and unjust acquisition of property.

Broader Context

This arrest follows a pattern of detentions targeting opposition officials in Turkiye, especially since the opposition gained control of major cities in 2019. The government has often accused local officials of ties to banned organizations, such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

In a related development, two co-mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) were jailed on Monday on terrorism-related charges. The government has since appointed a trustee to oversee the Akdeniz municipality in Mersin.

Implications

The arrest of Akpolat and other opposition figures raises questions about the independence of Turkiye’s judicial system and the government’s stance toward political dissent. With municipal elections on the horizon, these developments could significantly impact the country’s political landscape.