Businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is facing charges in a case involving 200 defendants, appeared in court at the Marmara Correctional Institution Campus, where Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat presented his defense. In his defense, Akpolat claimed that he was pressured to speak about the CHP Congress and to become a confessor. Akpolat denied the allegations of bribery, bid rigging, and membership in a criminal organization. Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, and Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar also presented their defenses in the trial. The defendant mayors requested acquittal, stating that the charges were based on statements of effective remorse. The trial is expected to continue until February 20.
February 4, 2026
BBC News Turkish