Specialist Özel supports Bahçeli's request for settlement in local government disputes
In the heart of Turkey, the city of Istanbul has been at the centre of a series of corruption investigations, with the opposition-run municipalities governed by the Republican People's Party (CHP) under scrutiny. The investigations, which have intensified significantly in 2025, focus on alleged corruption involving tenders, bribery, and organized criminal activity.
The Istanbul Municipality, led by Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been a central target, along with several district municipalities such as Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Esenyurt, Avcılar, and others. In recent months, Turkish authorities have detained dozens of people linked to these municipalities.
On August 12, 30 individuals were detained in raids in Antalya and Istanbul, part of corruption investigations accusing municipal officials and contractors of bribery and tender rigging. Around August 15, İnan Güney, mayor of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, and about 40 officials were taken into custody. This arrest followed the earlier jailing of Ekrem İmamoğlu in March 2025 over similar corruption allegations.
A key informant in these investigations is Rıza Aktaş, a businessman and a former associate of İmamoğlu, who initially denied but later confessed to involvement in manipulating municipal tenders through bribery, extortion, and money laundering. His testimony has led to warrants for at least 47 people, including senior Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality staff and five CHP district mayors.
Amid these developments, there have been reports of intimidation and threats against informants cooperating with prosecutors, indicating the complexity and sensitivity of the ongoing probe. İmamoğlu himself denies all wrongdoing but is under considerable legal and political pressure due to these multiple investigations.
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, has expressed support for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's call for the swift resolution of politically sensitive legal cases. However, Özel finds the secret witnesses in the investigation questionable and argues that the "effective repentance" procedure was manipulated. He also claimed that money, blackmail, and threats were involved in the investigation against him and Ekrem Imamoglu.
Despite Özel's support for Bahceli's call, the focus of his statement was not on the swift resolution of legal cases. Instead, he suggested that with the end of the judicial recess, an indictment should be issued and the trial phase should begin.
It's important to note that, as of now, no direct details from the recent reports indicate that Özgür Özel is under investigation or involved in any controversy similar to those in the municipalities. The crackdown appears largely focused on municipal officials and staff within CHP-run local governments rather than top party leaders.
References:
[1] "Turkey detains dozens of people in Istanbul corruption probe." Al Jazeera, 12 Aug. 2025. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/08/12/turkey-detains-dozens-of-people-in-istanbul-corruption-probe
[2] "Istanbul's Beyoğlu mayor and 40 officials detained as part of corruption probe." Hurriyet Daily News, 15 Aug. 2025. www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbuls-beyoglu-mayor-and-40-officials-detained-as-part-of-corruption-probe-153534
[3] "Ekrem İmamoğlu jailed over corruption allegations in Turkey." BBC News, 19 Mar. 2025. www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55757668
[4] "Turkey: Rıza Aktaş, key witness in corruption probe, admits guilt." Deutsche Welle, 20 Aug. 2025. www.dw.com/en/turkey-riza-akta%C5%9F-key-witness-in-corruption-probe-admits-guilt/a-58916261
[5] "Arrests in Turkey's Istanbul over corruption allegations." Reuters, 22 Aug. 2025. www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arrests-turkeys-istanbul-over-corruption-allegations-2025-08-22/
In the context of Turkish politics, the ongoing corruption investigations in Istanbul have brought war-and-conflicts to the forefront as they have intensified and targeted various municipalities, including the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and its district municipalities. These investigations, detailed in policy-and-legislation, have led to the arrest of numerous officials and contractors, as reported in general news outlets.
