Turkey: Opposition mayors receive heavy sentences, up to 23 years in prison

A court in Istanbul has handed down severe prison sentences to five opposition mayors, sentencing them to terms ranging from five years to more than 23 years. The verdicts, which found the mayors guilty primarily of corruption, were reported by Turkish media on Monday.

The five mayors, all affiliated with the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition party, were arrested in the first half of 2025. The CHP has faced increasing scrutiny from Turkey's justice system in recent years, with many of its elected officials targeted.

The heaviest sentence, 23 years and three months, was imposed on Riza Akpolat, the mayor of Istanbul's Besiktas district. He was found guilty of corruption, money laundering, and irregularities in public contracts, though acquitted of belonging to a criminal organization. Another mayor, who was elected in 2024 to lead Istanbul's most populous suburb, received an eight-month suspended sentence for "negligent abuse of power."

These convictions occur as the CHP faces significant pressure. Dozens of mayors elected by the party across Turkey have been detained and removed from office. The party's chairman was ousted in the spring, leading him to establish a new party. Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent former CHP figure who has since joined the new party, was arrested last year on corruption charges he denies, sparking widespread protests.

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I am innocent. There is no irrefutable evidence in this case. Everything is based on (...) slanderers' statements.