Five Mayors and a Deputy Mayor Suspended from Duty

Turkey’s Interior Ministry has suspended five mayors and one deputy mayor following their arrests in ongoing investigations involving bribery, tender fraud and organized crime allegations.

Five Mayors and a Deputy Mayor Suspended from Duty
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Publish: 07.10.2026
A+
A-

Turkey’s Ministry of Interior announced that five mayors and one deputy mayor have been suspended from duty as a temporary measure following their arrests in ongoing investigations.

According to the ministry’s statement, Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen, Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, and Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer were suspended from their municipal duties following court decisions ordering their arrests.

The ministry stated that Özmen was arrested by a decision of the Ankara 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace dated October 5, 2026, while Güneş and Özyiğit were also arrested under separate court decisions issued on the same date. Arrest decisions for Seçer and Tuncer were issued by the Mersin 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 6, 2026.

The investigations involve allegations including membership in or establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, bribery, bid rigging in public tenders, extortion, forgery of official documents, and fraud causing damage to public institutions.

The Ministry of Interior said the suspensions were imposed as a temporary measure under Article 127 of the Turkish Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393.

The ministry also announced that Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer was suspended from his position as President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, while Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer was suspended from his position as President of the Eastern Mediterranean Union of Municipalities.

The ministry emphasized that the suspensions and arrest decisions are part of ongoing judicial proceedings and do not constitute final convictions.

, , , , , , ,
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
A digital news platform delivering developments in Türkiye and the world to its readers with an objective and principled perspective. Liberal TR Haber Merkezi.
Leave a Comment


Comments - 0 Comment

No comments yet.