Turkish authorities escalate crackdown on opposition-run Istanbul municipality

ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities escalated their crackdown connected the opposition-run Istanbul municipality Saturday implicit alleged corruption charges, detaining 30 people. Those held see a erstwhile MP of the main absorption Republican People's Party, oregon CHP, and the mayors of 3 CHP-run districts of Istanbul.

State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the detentions were portion of 4 abstracted corruption investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Saturday's detentions are the 5th question of a ineligible crackdown against the Istanbul medication since March 19, erstwhile Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested connected corruption charges. The apprehension of Imamoglu, who is seen arsenic the astir viable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule, sparked wide demonstrations calling for his merchandise and an extremity to Turkey's antiauthoritarian backsliding nether Erdogan. The absorption and its supporters assertion his arrest, and the consequent apprehension of dozens much from the CHP, are politically motivated. "This clip the coup didn't travel with boots and tanks, but with prosecutor's robes," said CHP president Ozgur Ozel connected Saturday earlier a assemblage of supporters successful the northwestern metropolis of Duzce. However, the authorities insists Turkey's judiciary is autarkic and escaped of governmental influence. The 2nd crackdown connected CHP-run municipalities and districts occurred successful precocious April, and the 3rd and 4th waves were successful precocious May, resulting successful dozens of detentions.