11.07.2026 10:30
Çankaya Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner, who went on holiday to Spain during the NATO Summit held in Ankara, will be detained upon his return as part of an operation initiated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Güner, stating he will be in Ankara within a few hours, is accused of "forming a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "accepting bribes," "giving bribes," and "tampering with public tenders."
During the historic NATO Summit hosted by Ankara on July 7-8 with the participation of dozens of countries, the Mayor of Çankaya, the city's heart, Hüseyin Can Güner, had gone on vacation to Spain.
"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE IN AN ORGANIZATION I WAS NOT INVITED TO"
Güner, who was the target of criticism, said about his vacation: "For days, a group with clearly apparent intentions has been discussing where I was during the NATO summit, why I did not attend the summit, and even whether I went on vacation. I leave these claims, which strain the limits of reason and goodwill, to the conscience of our nation. To this day, I have carried out all my domestic and international travels at my own expense. Before all travels, I informed our official institutions, wrote my leave request, and left a proxy. All institutions of our State know where I am and that I will be wherever I am asked to be. Who will attend or take part in the NATO summit is determined by the relevant institutions of our State. It is, of course, not possible for me to be in such an organization to which I have not been invited/assigned. Çankaya Municipality is on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year, not just during international events like NATO. We are happy to see off all our guests without any issues from Çankaya and our country, and while stating that serving the people of Çankaya is our greatest pride, I inform the public that our only agenda is serving our nation."
OPERATION CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE MAYOR RETURNED FROM VACATION
While these discussions continued and before Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner returned from his vacation in Spain, an operation was carried out at Çankaya Municipality by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the morning hours. A detention order was issued for 36 people, including Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner, with suspects facing charges of establishing a criminal organization, being a member of a criminal organization, receiving bribes, giving bribes, and rigging tenders.
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR GÜNER
Çankaya Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner made a statement about the operation on his social media account. Pointing out that he is currently out of the city but will be in Ankara within a few hours, Güner said, "I have also informed all relevant authorities about this. I delivered a spare key to the teams that came to search my home and asked all our colleagues to assist our security forces."
"I want all our neighbors to know that since we took office, we have managed this institution in the best possible way and have never had any behavior that would embarrass anyone who trusted us," said Güner, adding that he will share the details and reasons of the investigation with the public when they become clear.
WHO IS HÜSEYİN CAN GÜNER?
Born in Ankara in 1993, Güner graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law in 2015. Güner registered with the CHP in 2012.
Güner worked in the Ankara Provincial Youth Branch University Commission, the Social Democratic Students organization, and the Çankaya District Youth Branch.
Serving as the Etimesgut Youth Branch President in 2013-2014, Güner served on the Central Local Governments Commission between 2014-2016 and worked as the CHP Çankaya District Vice President between 2018-2020.
From 2020 to 2023, Güner served as a member of the Çankaya District Election Board representing the CHP, became the Ankara 1st District 11th Rank Parliamentary Candidate in the May 14, 2023 General Elections, and was elected to the CHP Party Assembly at the 38th Ordinary Congress held on November 4-5, 2023.
Güner was elected Çankaya Mayor in the March 31 elections.