Interior Ministry Investigates İstanbul, Ankara Mayors over Coronavirus Donation Campaigns

Yavaş and İmamoğlu (Photo: AA / Archive)

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The Interior Ministry is reportedly investigating the mayors of İstanbul and Ankara over donation campaigns they launched to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry previously blocked the municipalities' bank accounts for donation after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a separate fundraising campaign.

CLICK - Interior Ministry Blocks Coronavirus Donations to İstanbul, Ankara Municipalities

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu told the daily Sözcü that an investigator has come to the municipality and they would submit a defense statement on Monday (April 20).

According to the law, municipalities can accept donations but have to get permission from the Interior Ministry to launch a fundraising campaign.

About the block on the municipality's bank accounts, İmamoğlu told Sözcü that they had 900 thousand lira (~130 thousand US dollars) in the blocked accounts. It was a "weak and wretched attitude" to block the people's money, he said.

The ministry was also investigating the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Barış Yarkadaş, a journalist and a former parliamentarian, said in a tweet. The municipality confirmed to Deutsche Welle's Turkish service that they were also under investigation.

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had accused the municipalities that launched a campaign of "trying to create a state within the state." (EMK/VK)