Turkish government have suspended Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler after his arrest on corruption charges, the Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday. Köseler, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained as part of a broader investigation into alleged bid-rigging and organised crime. His arrest has triggered strong political backlash, with opposition leaders accusing the government of targeting opposition-run municipalities.
The Interior Ministry said Köseler was suspended under Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law as a “precautionary measure” following his detention. A local court in Istanbul ordered his arrest on 4 March over accusations of manipulating municipal tenders. The charges also include allegations of forming and aiding a criminal organisation. Alongside Köseler, 12 other individuals were detained, while nine others were released under judicial supervision.
CHP leader Özgür Özel condemned the arrest, calling it a “political decision and an incompetent show of force”. In a statement on social media, he accused the government of using the judiciary to undermine elected opposition figures, saying, “The detention of our mayor at 4 am, keeping him in custody for four days, and arresting him despite no flight risk is a clear act of political intimidation.”
Köseler, who denies the allegations, said in his statement to prosecutors that he had no role in awarding tenders and had never instructed municipal officials to favour any company. “I had no involvement in the tender processes. The municipality operates with 31 directorates and over 2,300 employees. It is impossible for me to oversee every detail of their work,” he said.
His detention follows the arrests of other opposition mayors, including Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, and Kepez Mayor Mesut Kocagöz. The CHP has accused the government of orchestrating a crackdown on its elected officials ahead of the 2028 elections, alleging that the judiciary is being used as a political weapon.
The Turkish government has denied any political motivation behind the arrests, insisting that the legal proceedings are part of its anti-corruption efforts. However, the wave of detentions has raised concerns among rights groups and international observers about the state of judicial independence in Turkey.
