Turkish police detain opposition mayor over alleged collusion

27/2/2025 15:15

Turkish police on Thursday detained an Istanbul district mayor from the main opposition Republican People's Party, along with 20 others, over alleged collusive tendering, broadcaster NTV reported, amid a widening government crackdown on opposition figures.



An Istanbul prosecutor ordered the detention of Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Koseler and three others over the alleged collusion, as well as 17 others for establishing, joining, and aiding an organisation with criminal intent, according to NTV.



The state-owned Anadolu news agency had said on Tuesday that prosecutors had launched an investigation into three concerts by the Beykoz Municipality last year over irregularities, and added that the municipality's cultural and social matters representative was detained as part of the probe.



The move is the latest in a wave of arrests, detentions, and investigations carried out by authorities in recent months into opposition politicians, mayors and journalists. Critics say the crackdown aims to silence the opposition and weaken President Tayyip Erdogan's rivals' electoral prospects.



Earlier this month, the crackdown expanded to the country's top business group, after two of its executives criticised the legal measures, prompting Erdogan to accuse them of meddling in politics.



The government dismisses the accusations that the moves are aimed at muzzling dissent and says the judiciary is independent.