TÜRKİYE ORTA ASYA HABER KKUORDİNATÖRÜ

IFJ-INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALIST Turkish authorities detain 13 people in latest investigation targeting opposition municipalities ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities detained 13 people on Tuesday as part of a corruption investigation into concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. This was the latest legal action targeting municipalities run by Türkiye's main opposition party. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that the suspects, including former municipal employees and owners of private event companies, were detained on charges of abuse of public office and rigging public tenders. According to reports from the Ministry of Interior, the Turkish Financial Crimes Investigation Board, and the Court of Accounts, the investigation focuses on 32 concerts held between 2021 and 2024, which allegedly caused financial losses of 154.4 million Turkish lira ($3.7 million). Municipalities led by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) have faced a series of corruption investigations this year, including against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu, seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main rival, was arrested and detained in March, sparking widespread protests. The government maintains that Turkey's judiciary operates independently and that investigations are focused solely on uncovering corruption. The CHP secured landslide victories in last year's local elections, holding onto major cities like Istanbul and Ankara, while also making significant inroads in areas traditionally dominated by Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party.