Politics
PKK disarmament must be seen on ground: vice president
The decision by the PKK terrorist group to dissolve and lay down arms must be “observed in action on the ground” and not merely treated as a declaration, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said on Tuesday.
Speaking in a televised interview with TV100, Yılmaz warned that although the current process offers a significant opportunity for peace, it is vulnerable to sabotage and must proceed swiftly but cautiously.
“We need to see this decision reflected in reality. Our institutions will follow and monitor it closely,” Yılmaz said. “Giving a definitive timeline is not easy in such matters. It must happen as soon as possible.”
Türkiye has been battling the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union – for four decades. Following intensified security operations in recent years, Ankara sees the current moment as a turning point.
The initiative for a terror-free Türkiye was launched by government ally Devlet Bahçeli, head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who called on the PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan to appeal to the PKK to lay down arms last year.
Soon, his call evolved into a new initiative that saw People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmakers visiting Öcalan in the island prison where he is incarcerated in the Marmara Sea. As a result and in a landmark development, the PKK last month announced its dissolution and the end of its four-decade terror campaign that cost tens of thousands of lives in Türkiye, as well as in Iraq and Syria.
Yılmaz underlined that any delay or ambiguity could invite provocations from actors interested in sustaining instability. “There will always be those who want to sabotage peace,” he said. “That’s why this process must be completed in the shortest time possible.”
Israeli attack on aid ship
The vice president also condemned Israel’s recent attack on the Madleen, a humanitarian aid ship heading to Gaza, calling it “another addition to a long list of crimes.” He criticized the Netanyahu administration for pursuing what he termed a “genocidal policy” against Palestinians.
“This was an entirely illegal intervention. Israel must end its inhumane policies. A cease-fire must be reached immediately, and humanitarian aid should flow to Gaza without interruption,” Yılmaz urged.
He reiterated Türkiye’s call for a two-state solution under United Nation resolutions, stating that permanent peace in the region can only be achieved through justice and international consensus.
When asked about claims that Türkiye maintains trade ties with Israel, Yılmaz pointed to the country’s humanitarian leadership. “Let them ask the Palestinians: who has stood by them the most? Which country, which leader has done the most for them? The answer will be clear,” he said.
New constitution
Shifting to domestic politics, Yılmaz stressed the urgent need for a new, civilian constitution to replace the current charter, which was drafted following the 1980 military coup. He called it a “shame of the coup era” and emphasized that it no longer reflects the democratic aspirations of modern Türkiye.
“This is not just an issue for one party but for all political actors. Türkiye deserves a libertarian and civilian constitution in its second century,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has established an 11-member commission within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to begin drafting proposals. Yılmaz emphasized that this process should incorporate perspectives from all parties and civil society, stating: “This should be a product of collective wisdom and conscience.”
He also pushed back against opposition attempts to politicize the process, saying, “Those who try to derail this with excuses are doing a disservice to Türkiye. We must not let narrow political debates sabotage constitutional reform.”
Erdoğan’s government has been pushing to overhaul Türkiye’s Constitution for over a decade now, which was enforced in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
He said the new constitution would promote high-standard democracy, guarantee freedoms and the rule of law.
CHP corruption probes
Asked about the recent corruption investigations into municipalities led by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including İstanbul and Adana, Yılmaz emphasized that the operations are legal in nature and not politically motivated.
“This is a corruption probe, plain and simple. The judiciary will decide the outcome, and we will all see it together,” he said. “No one in this country has the freedom to commit crimes. Your title or political position does not grant you immunity.”
The investigations began with charges involving Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and later expanded to CHP-led districts. The opposition has claimed that these probes are politically driven, particularly after İmamoğlu’s increasing national profile and perceived presidential ambitions.
Yılmaz dismissed those claims, noting that İmamoğlu began positioning himself as a presidential candidate even though elections are not scheduled until 2028.
“Why did he begin a nationwide campaign without an election on the horizon? Was it to claim persecution in case of legal scrutiny?” Yılmaz asked. “That’s the question we should be asking. Whether he is guilty or innocent is up to the judiciary – not the political arena.”
He reminded critics that while judicial rulings can be criticized, no one has the right to “threaten or delegitimize” the judiciary. “There is no freedom to insult the courts,” he said firmly.
Responding to ongoing legal disputes within the CHP over its recent leadership congress, Yılmaz framed the issue as an internal party matter that must be resolved through legal and institutional channels.
“This is an issue within the CHP,” he said. “Ultimately, the courts will decide what’s legal and what isn’t. That is their job.”
While CHP leader Özgür Özel has portrayed the internal debate as a threat to the party’s stability, Yılmaz dismissed such alarmism. “This is not the end of the world. The current leadership will remain, or a temporary administration will be formed. This is not an existential crisis,” he said.
But he cautioned the opposition against amplifying its internal strife in the public sphere. “CHP must not allow its internal struggles to spill over into society. It only creates further polarization,” Yılmaz warned.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said Tuesday that its support in Istanbul has increased, citing internal polling as party officials vowed to intensify preparations for upcoming national and local elections.
Speaking at a party meeting organized by the AK Party’s Istanbul branch at the Bahçelievler Congress Center under the theme “Being One in Istanbul,” Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir said surveys show the party’s vote share in the city has risen since last year’s elections.
According to Özdemir, an internal poll conducted one year after the most recent elections showed AK Party support in Istanbul at 35.5%. He said the latest figures put the party’s support at 41.7%. Özdemir added that while AK Party district municipalities received an average of 46.1% of the vote in the 2024 local elections, recent polling shows that figure rising to 51.8%.
The meeting reviewed party activities since the last provincial congress and outlined goals for the coming years. Attendees included former Istanbul founding chairman Alaattin Büyükkaya, lawmakers, mayors, district heads and party members.
Özdemir said the party’s guiding principle in Istanbul was unity, adding that the organization would “continue its work under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.”
“We will be united, strong and resilient,” Özdemir said. “Together, we will be Istanbul; together, we will be Türkiye.”
He said Türkiye is navigating an extraordinary global period and highlighted that Ankara, under Erdoğan’s leadership, is working to promote peace in conflict zones worldwide.
Özdemir also sharply criticized Istanbul’s main opposition-led metropolitan administration, accusing it of mismanagement in areas including transportation, urban transformation and municipal services. He cited issues such as traffic congestion, fires involving public buses and problems in mass transit.
He said AK Party-led district municipalities and the central government have continued investing in Istanbul, including in transportation infrastructure, urban renewal, environmental projects, health care and education.
Referring to a recent advertising campaign launched by the party in the city, Özdemir said it had drawn strong reactions from the opposition-led municipality.
“We will not stop telling the truth,” he said. “We will continue to explain, everywhere and at all times, what has been done to Istanbul.”
Looking ahead, Özdemir said the party has finalized its road map for 2026 and beyond. He said the AK Party’s immediate goals include upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, followed by elections for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) and district mayoralties.
In presenting additional polling data, Özdemir said AK Party support in Istanbul stood at 32.6% when he took office and has since risen to 36.2%, excluding votes for its People’s Alliance partners. He expressed confidence that economic improvements expected in 2026 would further boost the party’s standing.
“We believe this momentum will continue,” Özdemir said.
“Family diplomacy” takes center stage as Türkiye aims to raise awareness on the preservation of the family and strengthening this core element of society. The Ministry of Family and Social Services leads the efforts to that extent on an international level.
The ministry said in a statement on Monday that they have been active in international platforms to highlight the issue, especially in the face of global risks.
Türkiye joined a United Nations initiative in 2024 for family and, under the U.N. roof, hosted numerous international side events focusing on the protection of the family.
As part of these efforts, a call to mobilize around the foster family model was made at the 79th U.N. General Assembly, followed by an emphasis on family-inspired women’s entrepreneurship at the 69th session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. In 2025, at the 80th U.N. General Assembly, a call was issued for global solidarity, starting from the family to counter emerging threats. In addition, the concept of “family-supported social development” was placed on the agenda at the second U.N. World Summit for Social Development.
Through Türkiye’s initiatives, cooperation frameworks on family and social policy were added to the agenda of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The first ministerial meeting in this field was held in Istanbul in May 2024, followed by a second meeting in June 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Family and population issues were also incorporated into the working areas of the Economic Cooperation Organization under Türkiye’s leadership.
Within the scope of 2025 being designated the “Year of the Family,” the International Family Forum held in Istanbul in May brought together participants from 26 countries. An international symposium titled “Toward the Decade of Family and Population” was also held in Ankara.
Meanwhile, at Türkiye’s proposal, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) 2026-2035 Action Program included “the protection of the family, generations and a strong population structure” as a distinct priority area. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigeria, Egypt and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) also declared 2026 as the “Year of the Family.”
As work continues on a draft resolution to declare 2026-2035 the “Decade of Family and Population” within the OIC, a separate draft resolution was adopted to protect young people’s rights in digital gaming and social media across member states.
During the tenure of Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, 22 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and four action plans related to family policies were signed with foreign counterpart institutions through international engagements. This figure represents 40% of all agreements signed since the ministry’s establishment.
Foreign Minister Hakan said the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran could be solved through creative diplomacy, after recent talks between the two countries.
Speaking on a live broadcast, Fidan said the emergence of a positive atmosphere after the first contact in a long while is significant for Ankara. He noted that a creative solution is needed and that both sides appear to show a willingness to work toward resolving the issue. He added that, for now, there does not seem to be an immediate threat of war.
“After the first contact following a long break, the emergence of a positive atmosphere is important for us. We need to find a creative solution, and we see that both sides have the will to resolve the issue. For now, it seems there is at least no immediate threat of war,” Fidan said.
The top Turkish diplomat said the Iran issue remains a central focus for Ankara, stressing that the region cannot withstand another war and that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is closely following the file.
He noted that Iranian and U.S. officials held rare talks in Oman two days ago, where Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefed counterparts on the discussions.
Fidan said that if a solution can be reached on the Iran file, other issues could also be brought to the table, noting that the nuclear dispute is primarily a matter between the U.S. and global security, while other topics are regional and not directly tied to U.S. security.
He said there is a belief that resolving the nuclear issue would make progress on other disputes easier and that Ankara has conveyed this view to both sides in an effort to establish a workable framework. Fidan added that this dynamic should not be seen as a surprise, as parties often prepare alternative scenarios where hostilities exist. He pointed to U.S. displays of pressure – such as deploying major fleets, bombers, and strategic assets – and Iran’s statements about increasing its missile numbers as signs that any potential confrontation would be costly for both. “First, it is about demonstrating strength; second, being prepared,” he said.
Regime change not possible in Iran
In response to a question about whether he thinks regime change could be possible in Iran through U.S. airstrikes, Fidan said regimes do not change through airstrikes.
“I don’t think regime change is possible in Iran,” he said.
Fidan dismissed the idea of regime change in Iran as unrealistic, saying such expectations amount to “an empty dream.”
He said a more plausible scenario would be a government weakened by its inability to provide public services, prompting the existing leadership to make radical decisions and adjust course. He noted that discussions take place on two levels – formal talks and more candid exchanges – and argued that the problem lies not in Iran’s system itself but in the decisions and policies it pursues.
Fidan said Iran’s long-standing revolutionary cadre continues to govern the country with an approach shaped by the 1979 revolution rather than a conventional nation-state model, creating structural challenges.
While Iran is not building a bomb, Fidan said, it is developing capabilities close to it, which exposes the country to sanctions. “People misunderstand this,” he said. “They are not producing a bomb, nor is there evidence they intend to, but they are enriching uranium to a level that raises concern. The issue at hand is uranium enrichment.”
Fidan recalled that Iran was struck while negotiations were ongoing and described how, during the 12-day June war, Washington warned Ankara that “anything could happen within hours,” even as talks were scheduled.
“The U.S. was the one talking; Israel was the one striking,” he said, adding that conditions may be different this time and that Türkiye is doing all it can to avert a catastrophe. He noted that Iran has its own decision-making structure, with established rules for negotiations, including location, modality, and participants. Ankara proposed a different method, encouraging Iranian and U.S. officials to meet face-to-face instead of speaking through a mediator in separate rooms, but Iran opted to continue the system used in Oman and that Ankara respects the choice of its neighbor.
Fidan said Iran faces major existential challenges and that Türkiye held extensive consultations in early February with regional partners, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, all of whom showed strong interest. He added that during discussions on the Palestine issue, Türkiye brought regional countries together around shared ideas and delivered a strong diplomatic effort. “We suggested showing the same kind of solidarity on the Iran issue,” he said, proposing a joint platform to build consensus and present a unified message to the parties. He noted that the United States welcomed this approach, saying it had proven effective in Gaza by fostering regional ownership and coordinated action. “We are moving forward as a strong team,” Fidan said, “but the challenges remain substantial.”
‘Restoring regional cooperation vital’
Fidan said the region needs stronger cooperation platforms, stressing that the most urgent requirement is for regional countries to restore mutual confidence.
He noted that this trust deficit must be addressed and added that President Erdoğan’s perspective focuses on institutionalizing regional solidarity in the military, political and economic fields. He continued by saying that ongoing discussions on these ideas are important and that several advanced proposals are now on the table. He added that he expects developments in the near future that will contribute to regional stability.
Dialogue rather than bloodshed necessary in Syria
Fidan said limited progress has been made on preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, but stressed the importance of advancing the process through dialogue rather than bloodshed.
He noted that although more work remains, the withdrawal of the terrorist PKK’s Syrian offshoot, YPG, from occupied areas and its repositioning in predominantly YPG/PKK-held regions marks an improvement compared to earlier maps.
Still, he said, additional steps required under existing agreements must be completed, as mistrust persists on both sides. Fidan argued that the YPG must undergo a historic transformation, adopting a more realistic, Syrian-oriented posture that does not threaten the security of Iraq or Türkiye and is not aligned with the goals of the PKK. Such a shift, he added, would create space for legitimate political engagement by Kurdish communities. He said Türkiye has conveyed this message to President Bashar Assad as well and will follow the process closely, emphasizing that equal rights for all Syrian citizens are essential.
Fidan added that Kurdish communities had little opportunity to engage with Damascus due to years under different controlling forces but are now gradually reconnecting. Türkiye, he said, has long taken a sensitive approach toward Syrian Kurds, raising their lack of citizenship and sense of belonging in past meetings with Assad. He noted that toxic narratives have taken root, including PKK-driven claims portraying all Sunni Arabs as Daesh members, and opposing narratives portraying all Kurds as PKK or YPG. These, he said, must be isolated. Fidan praised the stance of Ahmet Şara and his colleagues, saying they did not oppress civilians, and expressed hope that this chapter will close in a way that benefits both Kurds and Arabs, alleviates Türkiye’s security concerns, and helps Syria move toward a more stable future.
Earlier on Monday, Fidan spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, discussing ongoing nuclear negotiations, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Türkiye was named as one of the potential venues for direct talks between Iran and the U.S., after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran following weeks of deadly protests in Türkiye’s eastern neighbor. Iran said last Wednesday that the talks would take place in Oman’s Muscat on Friday amid rumors that negotiations may collapse due to disagreements about the format and the venue.
Ankara, which maintains close ties with Iran and the U.S., has advocated dialogue since tensions gradually escalated over the past few weeks. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted phone diplomacy with both Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the crisis, while Araghchi met his Turkish counterpart Fidan in Istanbul in January.
NATO stages its biggest exercise this year in Germany, with some 10,000 personnel from 11 countries. Türkiye, which has the defense body’s second-largest army, dispatched 2,000 personnel for Steadfast Dart 2026, which began on Sunday. The exercise, which will continue until Feb. 20, aims to showcase NATO’s ability to deploy rapidly and conduct complex operations, the body said in a statement earlier this month.
It is the first time that Türkiye sent so many troops to Northern Europe, though the country is a major component of NATO at a time of heightened defense worries in Europe.
Türkiye aims to demonstrate its locally made weapons systems at the exercise in Germany. The country plays a strategic role in the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) that will test NATO’s readiness in a simulated conflict scenario.
The 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Command of the Turkish army will be among those representing the country at the exercise. Soldiers from the command’s base in northwestern Türkiye’s Tekirdağ province left for Germany on Saturday after a ceremony. Speaking there, the brigade’s commander, Brig. Gen. Hulusi Koçbay, said that the exercise would involve simultaneous use of land, air and naval vehicles and that they had contributed 650 personnel and 149 vehicles to the exercise, pointing out that they would use locally produced weapons and equipment. He said the TCG Anadolu vessel of the navy and a civilian transportation ship left Türkiye on Jan. 20 for the deployment of vehicles and munitions and already arrived at Germany’s Emden port.
“We will conduct joint training with other countries in several fields for combat and improve our cooperation abilities within NATO. We are ready to conduct any tasks we are assigned to demonstrate efficiency and visibility of our Land Forces in NATO,” he said. The combat group consists of a motorized infantry battalion, an artillery battery, an engineer combat company, a maintenance unit and a field service company.
Türkiye played a critical role in the Western-centric bloc, which expanded its influence across Europe. Commanding one of the strongest armies in the alliance, the country is also a key member of NATO due to its location on the southeastern tip of Europe, at the gateway to Asia for Europe.
Although it has started courting NATO’s traditional rivals more in recent years, Türkiye is firmly aligned with the alliance, as its leaders repeatedly confirmed. Türkiye’s membership is viewed as winning a reliable ally in NATO’s southern wing in terms of air, land and maritime defense. The country is already in the top five countries contributing to NATO’s operations and missions.
Türkiye’s strategic location makes it the first defense against threats and risks in the region for NATO, while the alliance is an essential component in Türkiye’s security and defense. The country particularly proved its worth to the alliance, which sees terrorism as one of the main threats.
In the Balkans, Türkiye is the top contributor to the alliance’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), which maintained command of the forces between 2023 and 2024. It currently holds deputy command of the force, while it was the top contributor to the reserve battalion in Kosovo to ensure the security of the Balkan country and the region.
It is also a top contributor in terms of personnel to NATO’s Iraq mission, which was founded in 2018 to provide consultancy and training to Iraqi security forces.
In NATO’s military exercises, Türkiye is a prominent actor. It also commands NATO’s permanent maritime task group and a task group against naval mines.
The country provides financial and personnel support to NATO, primarily for building defense capacity. In 2024, it became one of 24 NATO members achieving a 2.09% goal in the proportion of estimated defense expenditures to gross domestic product (GDP). Türkiye ranks eighth among the top contributors to NATO in contributing to joint funds, at 4.59%, and seventh in terms of personnel contribution to the alliance’s entire cadres.
Türkiye also hosts critical NATO facilities, including Allied Land Command, which is located in the western city of Izmir, and Rapid Deployable Corps, which is based in Istanbul. In the capital, Ankara, it hosts the Centre of Excellence for Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) and the Partnership for Peace Training Center. Istanbul hosts the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE).
The country’s rapidly growing defense industry makes it a valuable member of the alliance in terms of innovation and production in the industry. This has become especially prominent in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the beginning of the second Trump era in the U.S., bringing the “strong defense industry” element to the forefront of the alliance’s agenda. In addition to being NATO’s second-largest army, Türkiye has solidified its privileged position in recent years with advancements in its defense industry, producing a wide range of military products and equipment.
Its innovative defense industry has gained significant attention from both NATO and allied countries. The use of Turkish-made drones by Ukraine has underscored this.
Government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will mark its 57th anniversary on Monday. Party Chair Devlet Bahçeli will convene fellow members at a major event in Ankara on the occasion of the anniversary.
The MHP was founded in 1969, or rather, changed its name from the Republican Villager Nation Party (CKMP) in a convention that year. The CKMP was founded by Alparslan Türkeş, a military officer who fell out with the junta regime that seized power in 1960. The party held a two-day convention on Feb. 8-9, 1969, that concluded with the name change and adoption of three crescents as its emblem. It is the longest-surviving nationalist party in Turkish politics.
Four years after the name change, the party secured two seats in the government founded in 1973. It further expanded its clout by securing 16 seats at the Parliament in the 1977 elections and joining the coalition government led by Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel.
The MHP shared the fate of other parties after the 1980 coup and was shut down while its leader, Alparslan Türkeş, was banned from politics. As other parties did, it went on to change its name again, this time to the Nationalist Workers Party (MÇP) in 1985. The party switched back to the MHP name in 1993, four years before the passing of Türkeş. The incumbent chair, Devlet Bahçeli, defeated Türkeş’s son Tuğrul in the 1997 intraparty elections and has served in this capacity since then. Under Bahçeli, the MHP increased its votes and became the second party after the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in the 1999 elections, leading to a coalition government between the DSP, MHP and Motherland Party (ANAP). The party’s votes, however, skydived in the 2002 elections, where it failed to win any seats in Parliament. It was only in 2007 that it returned to Parliament with 71 seats. Since then, it gradually increased the number of seats with successive electoral victories.
2015 was another breaking point for the MHP, after the death of Türkeş. Three prominent figures of the party sought “change” after the 2015 elections and challenged Bahçeli to a new intraparty election. Bahçeli rejected the bid, paving the way for a split. Bahçeli’s opponents in the party, led by Meral Akşener, went on to found the Good Party (IP).
Initially wary of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the MHP decided to side with them after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) sought to topple the AK Party government. Bahçeli openly supported the executive presidency system for Türkiye and constitutional changes stipulated in a referendum proposed by the AK Party. The MHP’s support for AK Party chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took another turn when it agreed to form the People’s Alliance with the AK Party in the 2018 elections. The party’s votes declined after the formation of the alliance but it managed to secure 10.07% of the vote in the 2023 general elections. Currently, the MHP retains 47 seats at Parliament.
Aziz İhsan Aktaş, a prominent businessperson accused of running a criminal ring thriving on briberies to municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will make his first court appearance this week.
He is among 200 defendants on a case that shed light on bribes and tender-rigging processes in municipalities that also netted prominent mayors of the CHP. Aktaş was released and sentenced to house arrest last year after his initial arrest in 2024, when he decided to collaborate with authorities. In January, the first hearing of defendants in the case was held in Istanbul. An indictment says Aktaş and his associates bribed their way into lucrative tenders and building permits. Several CHP mayors in Istanbul, including Beşiktaş’ Rıza Akpolat, Avcılar District Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, as well as mayors of southern city of Adana and southeastern city of Adıyaman were also named in the indictment. The latter two were released before the trial began.
An Istanbul court heard testimonies of 33 defendants so far in the previous hearings. Among them were Akpolat who faces prison terms up to 337 years on charges of corruption.
Aktaş faces prison terms up to 450 years for his role as the “leader of the criminal ring” as prosecutors defined him.
The arrests of Aktaş and Akpolat were first in a long line of investigations into alleged rampant corruption in CHP-run municipalities. In March 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, a prominent figure in the party, was arrested on the same charges. More arrests followed on similar charges in the following months as investigations also expanded to other cities run by the CHP, such as Antalya in the south. The CHP claims the arrests are politically motivated and regularly holds public rallies to denounce them and call for release of mayors. The government insists that the judiciary is independent.
Prosecutors say Imamoğlu’s win in the 2024 election, where he secured a second term as Istanbul mayor, helped Aktaş’s criminal network to enter “into a golden age” of their corruption web. They say the network secured public tenders from the IBB and district municipalities of Türkiye’s most populated city since 2020, including Beşiktaş, Avcılar and Esenyurt municipalities.
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