Turkish police have raided the headquarters of opposition-aligned broadcaster Halk TV in Istanbul, halted its live broadcasts and prevented employees from entering the building, according to the channel and Turkish media reports.
Halk TV announced on Wednesday morning that police had entered its headquarters and appointed a new manager to take control of the station.
“Police are inside the Halk TV building. A supervisor has been appointed to take control of the station. Live broadcasts have been interrupted,” the broadcaster said in a statement posted on X.
Turkish media reports said financial crimes police were searching the premises and authorities had issued 17 arrest warrants in an operation linked to the channel’s owner.
Halk TV has close ties to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and regularly criticises President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The raid comes amid mounting pressure on Turkey’s main opposition. In May, a Turkish court removed the CHP leadership from running the party in a legal move that the opposition said further strengthened Erdoğan’s grip on power.
Meanwhile, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely regarded as Erdoğan’s most prominent political rival, has spent more than a year in prison over corruption allegations. He denies all the charges.
Kosta Papadopoulos
Kosta Papadopoulos is an editor at Greek City Times, covering Greek and international news, travel, sport, and entertainment.