BREAKING: CHP Mayor Tanju Özcan Sacked After Arrest in Corruption Probe
tanju ozcan
Bolu, Türkiye — Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, a prominent member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been suspended from office after being arrested in connection with a major corruption investigation, authorities confirmed.
The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an inquiry into alleged “extortion by coercion” (irtikap) at Bolu Municipality, leading to coordinated operations that saw Özcan and 12 others detained earlier this week.
Key developments in the case:
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Prosecutors charged Özcan, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, and several municipal officials with misconduct related to abuse of office and unlawful gains.
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A court ordered the detention of Özcan and Can, while other suspects were released under judicial control.
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Following his arrest, the Ministry of Interior announced Özcan’s temporary suspension from his post as mayor under constitutional and municipal law provisions.
Mansur Yavaş Reacts
An outspoken voice within the CHP, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, publicly criticized the detention. In a social media post, Yavaş argued that pre-trial imprisonment should be an exception, especially for a municipal leader with no flight risk or evidence tampering concerns, and said the decision eroded public confidence in the legal system.
Broader Crackdown on CHP Mayors
Özcan’s suspension comes amid an ongoing wave of legal action targeting opposition mayors in Türkiye. According to independent reports, a crackdown since late 2024 has led to the detention of more than 500 government critics, including opposition officials, and at least 14 elected CHP mayors have been imprisoned or placed under judicial controls as part of corruption and other probes.
Last year, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu — widely seen as a leading presidential contender — was also detained and barred from office on charges that many critics described as politically motivated.
Other CHP mayors have faced suspensions or legal pressure in recent months, reflecting broader political tensions between the ruling establishment and the country’s main secular opposition
