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The Interior Ministry has announced the temporary suspension of Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan, who was recently arrested on charges of abuse of office and extortion.
Following the suspension of Ozcan, who is a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the city council will hold an election to determine his replacement. As the CHP holds the majority in the municipal council, the administration is not expected to shift to another party.
The developments follow a coordinated operation by the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command on the morning of Feb. 28. Acting on the instructions of the prosecutor's office, security forces raided 13 addresses simultaneously, detaining 13 individuals, including the mayor.
After appearing before the on-duty Criminal Peace Judgeship, Ozcan and Deputy Mayor Suleyman Can were formally arrested.
The investigation, launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, centers on allegations that the municipality attempted to force chain markets into signing lucrative advertising contracts to generate revenue for a municipal company. According to witness testimony in the file, market representatives found the proposed advertising fees exorbitant.
During his interrogation, Ozcan claimed he held a meeting with market owners at the municipality building merely to request support for the BOLSEV Foundation to fund student scholarships.
However, statements from foundation officials presented a conflicting narrative. The foundation's board chairman stated they had made a "commercial advertising agreement," while another manager claimed no money was requested at all.
The prosecution alleges that chain markets that refused to sign the contracts were subsequently subjected to targeted inspections and suspensions of their operations. Municipal officials have defended their actions, arguing the inspections were strictly routine.
Ozcan had previously sparked nationwide controversy and drawn heavy criticism for announcing plans to charge Syrian immigrants significantly higher water and electricity rates.
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