ISTANBUL (AP) – The mayor of Besiktas, one of Turkey's significant opposition strongholds, was arrested on Monday in connection with a bid-rigging investigation, according to prosecutors in Istanbul. Riza Akpolat, the municipality's mayor, was apprehended at his summer house in Edremit, located on Turkey's west coast. The Besiktas area is under the control of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and is known as a major entertainment hub as well as the home of the famous Besiktas JK soccer club.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement claiming that a "criminal organization" was coordinating tender processes through bribery, involving mayors and senior municipal executives to ensure that their own companies were awarded contracts. This corruption investigation has drawn attention as it seems to affect several high-profile members of the opposition.
CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel characterized Akpolat's arrest as "a new link in the chain of lawlessness in the politicized justice system." He promised to support Akpolat, suggesting that these actions may be politically motivated. Ekrem Imamoglu, the CHP mayor of Istanbul, criticized the early morning raid on Akpolat, describing it as part of an effort to sway public opinion against the opposition. He emphasized that actions driven by illegitimate intentions cannot yield lawful outcomes.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for three months, has led to arrest warrants for a total of 47 individuals, which includes Akpolat and Ahmet Ozer, the CHP mayor of Esenyurt district in Istanbul. Ozer has been in detention since October as part of a different investigation that scrutinizes his alleged connections to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Prosecutors noted that the alleged tender-rigging was headed by a figure identified as Aziz Ihsan Aktas. Alongside Aktas, 24 other suspects faced charges that include establishing and operating a criminal organization, being members of a criminal organization, bribery, bid-rigging, violating tax laws, and money laundering.
In response to the unfolding situation, police established barriers around Besiktas municipal offices. Akpolat’s office was subjected to a search, and municipal staff members were required to show identification before being granted access to their workplace.
Riza Akpolat, aged 42, was elected as the Besiktas mayor in 2019, receiving nearly three-quarters of the vote. Prior to this role, he had unsuccessfully campaigned for a parliamentary seat on the CHP ticket. His detainment, alongside other municipal officials, raises questions about the ongoing political climate in Turkey, especially following the opposition's successful control over major cities during the 2019 local elections.
Since these opposition parties gained significant control, local officials have frequently faced arrests and removal from office. Notably, members of the pro-Kurdish party have been the primary targets of these crackdowns due to alleged affiliations with the PKK. The tensions surrounding these recent arrests contribute to a growing narrative about the politicization of the judicial system in Turkey, further complicating the landscape for opposition leaders and local governance.
