Turkish Authorities Arrest Actor and Mayor Erdal Besikcioglu

WHO:

AP News - Erdal Besikcioglu, the mayor of Etimesgut Municipality, is a former TV actor known for his role as detective Behzat C in a popular police drama.

AP News - The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is the political party under which Besikcioglu was elected mayor.

AP News - Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, is mentioned as a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

WHAT:

AP News - Turkish police detained Erdal Besikcioglu in a wave of arrests targeting the opposition.

AP News - Besikcioglu is being investigated for allegations of irregularities and forgery in municipal tenders.

AP News - Investigators are examining parking lot leasing schemes and construction zoning permissions.

AP News - A total of 52 suspects were detained during the raids, which included searches at 71 locations.

AP News - The suspects face charges including establishing and running a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, and tender-rigging.

WHERE:

AP News - The raids took place across nine provinces in Turkey, overseen by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

AP News - Etimesgut Municipality is located in western Ankara.

WHEN:

AP News - Erdal Besikcioglu was elected mayor in 2024.

AP News - Ekrem Imamoglu has been arrested and imprisoned since March last year.

WHY:

AP News - The arrests are part of criminal investigations into alleged corruption targeting opposition-run municipalities.

HOW:

AP News - Police conducted dawn raids and seized documents and digital materials during the searches.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 10:43 UTC)

Turkish police have detained Erdal Besikcioglu, the mayor of Etimesgut Municipality and a former TV actor, amid a wave of arrests targeting opposition figures. Besikcioglu is under investigation for allegations of irregularities and forgery in municipal tenders, with a total of 52 suspects detained across nine provinces during coordinated raids overseen by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The investigations focus on corruption in opposition-run municipalities, with charges against the suspects including embezzlement, bribery, and tender-rigging.