The Beşiktaş Municipal Council will convene for the election of the deputy chairman.

On January 13, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, who was detained and later arrested as part of the investigation into tender fraud initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has been suspended from his duties.

MEETING TO ELECT THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Following the suspension decision by the Ministry of Interior, the Istanbul Governorship announced that the Beşiktaş Municipal Council would convene to elect a deputy chairman.

In its statement, the governorship said, "Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat has been arrested by the Istanbul 6th Peace Criminal Court's decision dated January 17, 2025, and numbered 2025/34 due to the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Rıza Akpolat has been suspended from his duties with the approval of the Ministry of Interior's letter dated January 17, 2025, and numbered 93304 due to the arrest decision."

DATE SET

In the continuation of the statement, it was announced that the municipal council would meet on Thursday, January 23, stating, "In accordance with the provisions of Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, it has been deemed appropriate by our Governorship for the Beşiktaş Municipal Council to convene in the Beşiktaş Municipality Council Meeting Hall on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 14:00 to elect the Deputy Mayor. The election of the deputy mayor will be held with the participation of the Beşiktaş Municipality Council members on the specified date and time."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was detained in the investigation alleging that the criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş organized tenders by bribing mayors and high-level executives of municipalities.

Rıza Akpolat was arrested on charges of "establishing and managing a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "giving bribes," "interfering with a tender," "interfering with the performance of a duty," and "laundering the value of assets."

Following his arrest, a statement was made from Akpolat's social media account, saying, "This frame-up case is an assassination of reputation. Our struggle to serve the public has not ended, and it will not end. The anger of millions fighting for rights, law, and justice will destroy your dark order."