ANKARA: Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained 13 people as part of a corruption investigation into concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality — the latest legal action targeting municipalities run by Turkiye’s main opposition party.
A statement from the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office said the suspects, including former municipal employees and owners of private event companies, were taken into custody on charges of abuse of public office and rigging of public tenders.
The investigation centers on 32 concerts held between 2021 and 2024, which allegedly resulted in 154.4 million Turkish lira ($3.7 million) of financial losses, according to reports by the Interior Ministry, Turkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, and the Court of Accounts, the statement said.
Municipalities led by the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, have faced a series of corruption probes this year, including the most high-profile one of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Regarded as president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, Imamoglu was arrested and detained in March, triggering widespread protests.
The CHP has rejected the allegations, describing the legal actions as politically motivated efforts by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‘s government to undermine the opposition through judicial means.
The government insists that Turkiye’s judiciary operates independently, and that the investigations are solely focused on uncovering corruption.
The CHP achieved sweeping victories in last year’s local elections, holding onto major cities like Istanbul and Ankara, while also making significant advances in regions traditionally dominated by Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party.
Turkish authorities detain 13 in latest probe targeting opposition-run municipalities
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Turkish authorities detain 13 in latest probe targeting opposition-run municipalities
- Suspects were taken into custody on charges of abuse of public office and rigging of public tenders
- The investigation centers on 32 concerts held between 2021 and 2024
Israel army ‘temporarily suspends’ strike on south Lebanon
- The Israeli military issued a warning earlier on Saturday announcing an imminent strike and warning people in the Yanuh area of south Lebanon to evacuate immediately
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it would “temporarily” suspend a strike planned for Saturday that was intended to target what it described as Hezbollah military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
A November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, which broke out after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
But Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite the truce, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure to stop the group from rearming.
The Israeli military issued a warning earlier on Saturday announcing an imminent strike and warning people in the Yanuh area of south Lebanon to evacuate immediately.
But later Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said “the strike was temporarily suspended,” adding that the military “continues to monitor the target.”
The suspension came after the Lebanese army “requested access again to the specified site... and to address the breach of the agreement,” he said on X.
Adraee added that the military would “not allow” Hezbollah to “redeploy or rearm.”
The year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism includes the United Nations, the United States and France.
A Lebanese security source said the army had previously tried to search the building that the Israeli military wanted to target but could not because of objections from residents.
But the source told AFP that the Lebanese army was able to enter and search the building after returning a second time, because residents “felt threatened,” adding that they were evacuated over fears of a strike.
