Police detain opposition mayor in Turkish Ankara district in dawn raid over corruption claims

ByREUTERSJULY 30, 2026 08:47Turkish police detained an opposition mayor of Ankara's Etimesgut district on Thursday, among others, during a corruption investigation, broadcaster NTV and other media said. Mayor Erdal Besikcioglu was detained after police raided the Etimesgut municipality in the early morning, the report said. It was the latest step in an unprecedented legal crackdown on municipalities run by the main opposition to President Tayyip Erdogan.Prosecutors opened an embezzlement investigation into the municipality in March after irregularities were found in its accounts, NTV said.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a joint press conference withn Iraqi Prime Minister following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on July 28, 2026. (credit: ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)Claims of political motivation as wave of accusations hit Turkish oppositionOn Wednesday, police detained the opposition mayor of Istanbul district Uskudar, along with five others, over alleged irregularities in building and occupancy permits.The opposition has rejected a wave of accusations since 2024 and says the investigations are politically motivated. The government says the judiciary is independent.Follow us on Google