Ankara mayor suspends top bureaucrats over ongoing concert investigation

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas has temporarily suspended two senior officials from the city’s Department of Culture and Social Affairs following an ongoing investigation into concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Haluk Erdemir, the department’s head, and Haci Ali Bozkurt, the department’s coordinator, have been placed on leave until the investigation concludes.

The investigation was launched after allegations concerning the municipality’s concerts. In response, Mayor Yavas decided to suspend both officials while the inquiry was carried out.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the investigation after receiving reports about the concerts.

This has led to similar investigations and reviews being initiated for other municipalities, including the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, led by the opposition CHP, and Beykoz Municipality