Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Istanbul has issued arrest warrants for 106 suspects, including the mayor of the city, according to Türkiye’s Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç.

The minister explained that the prosecution is conducting two separate investigations. The first, led by the Bureau for the Investigation of Terrorist Crimes, has resulted in the detention of seven individuals, including the head of the municipality. They have been charged with aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.

The second investigation is being carried out by the Bureau for Combating Organized Crime. In this case, arrest warrants have been issued for 100 individuals, including the mayor of Istanbul. The charges include bribery, extortion, bid rigging, large-scale fraud, and the illegal collection and use of personal data within a criminal organization.

The Minister of Justice emphasized that the investigative actions are based on concrete evidence, including financial reports from MASAK (the Financial Crimes Investigation Board), tax audits, banking documents, and witness testimony. He assured that the investigation is being conducted in strict compliance with legal norms and the principles of justice.

Yılmaz Tunç also reminded that the country’s judicial system operates independently and that justice is administered on behalf of the Turkish people by impartial courts. He stressed that all citizens are equal before the law and that, in accordance with Article 138 of the Constitution, judicial bodies make decisions free from external pressure.

"No privileges can be granted to individuals or any groups. No entity, institution, or person has the right to interfere with the work of the courts," the minister stated.

He also warned against the spread of misinformation, attempts to politicize the judicial process, and any pressure on the justice system. "If charges have been filed, the place to address them is the court, not the streets," he noted.

Yılmaz Tunç condemned efforts to link the investigation to the head of state, emphasizing that the judiciary operates independently of the executive and legislative branches. "Any attacks on judges, threats, or insults directed at them are unacceptable in a democratic state," he added.

The minister urged the public to await the conclusion of the investigation and to trust Türkiye’s legal system. "All charges, evidence, and defense arguments will be examined with the utmost diligence. Once confidentiality restrictions are lifted, the public will have the opportunity to see all the facts in full," he concluded.