Turkish authorities escalated their sweeping corruption investigation on Saturday, detaining three additional mayors from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office.

The arrests, targeting the mayors of Adana, Adiyaman, and Antalya, along with the deputy mayor of Istanbul’s Buyukcekmece district, are part of a months-long crackdown centered on allegations of extortion and corruption.

The latest detentions, which also included at least eight other individuals, follow a broader probe that has ensnared hundreds of CHP members, including 11 other mayors, since October 2024. The opposition party has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling the investigation as a politically motivated campaign to undermine its leadership. The government, however, has rejected these claims, insisting the probe is rooted in evidence of widespread corruption.

The crackdown gained international attention in March when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges he denies. His detention sparked the largest street protests in Türkiye in a decade and triggered a sharp decline in the country’s financial markets, highlighting the investigation’s far-reaching implications.

As the probe expands beyond Istanbul to major southern cities, the focus on alleged extortion and corruption within the CHP continues to fuel political tensions across Türkiye. Authorities have yet to release further details on the evidence behind Saturday’s arrests, leaving the nation on edge as the legal battle unfolds. (ILKHA)