Reports say Turkey arrests 27 in CHP-run Ankara district

Turkish media reports said 27 people were arrested in early-morning raids on Saturday in Cankaya, an Ankara district run by the main opposition CHP.

The reports said Ankara's public prosecutor had issued a warrant naming 36 people, including Cankaya Mayor Huseyin Can Guner. The warrant reportedly cited accusations of forming or belonging to a criminal organisation, bribery and tender rigging.

The raids came during growing pressure on the CHP. Hundreds of party officials have been arrested in ongoing corruption investigations, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The party is also facing a leadership crisis after an Ankara court annulled its 2023 leadership election over alleged vote buying and removed elected chairman Ozgur Ozel. Critics have described the ruling as part of an effort by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to weaken his opponents.

After Saturday's raids, Ozel urged party members to gather in front of Cankaya city hall. He is appealing against the court decision and said on Friday that forming a new party would be a worst-case scenario if legal efforts failed.