Riza Akpolat

Riza Akpolat is the mayor of Beşiktaş, a district in Istanbul, and a member of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP). He has been in the news due to severe prison sentences being sought against him by the Turkish prosecutor's office, which has accused him of serious charges including 'belonging to a criminal organization,' 'manipulating tenders,' and 'illicit enrichment.' His case is part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures in Turkey amid accusations of political persecution.