Istanbul mayor detained in widening corruption probe

Türkiye’s Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a fresh corruption investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), resulting in the detention of Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney.

Authorities issued detention orders for 44 suspects in total, of whom 40 have already been taken into custody, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Thus, the number of people detained in connection with eight operations carried out at the Istanbul Municipality has reached 316.

Since March 2025, Turkish authorities have carried out eight coordinated anti-corruption operations targeting Istanbul’s municipal institutions, resulting in the detention of 316 people.

The investigations have focused on alleged bribery, tender rigging, embezzlement, and organised crime within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).

High-profile figures, including district mayors and senior municipal managers, have been detained, most recently Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney.

The probes have spanned subsidiaries like KIPTAŞ, Medya AŞ, and ISTAÇ, highlighting systemic governance issues.

By Aghakazim Guliyev