Silivri Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu detained in Turkish municipal corruption probe

Turkish police conducted a coordinated operation against the Silivri district municipality in Istanbul, detaining 17 individuals including the mayor, Bora Balcıoğlu, his deputy, municipal officials and local businesspeople. The investigation, led by the Silivri chief public prosecutor, alleges misuse of municipal procedures for personal gain, covering hiring, zoning, licensing, illegal construction and the sale of a municipal park property at a loss estimated at 21.5 million Turkish lira. Prosecutors accuse the suspects of forming a criminal organization, bribery, extortion, abuse of office, bid‑rigging and money laundering. Police searched the municipal building, seizing files and digital data for forensic analysis. In response, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu dispatched a delegation headed by Hasan Efe Uyar to monitor the legal process and gather information for the party. The operation follows a series of investigations targeting CHP‑run municipalities after the opposition’s strong performance in the 2024 local elections, fueling claims of political pressure on Turkey’s main opposition.