The Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, belonging to the People’s Party of the Republican of the opposition (CHP), on corruption and the accusations linked to terrorism, provoking the indignation of the opposition party.
Imamoglu was arrested on Wednesday, just a few days before his party officially appointed him as a challenger to Erdogan in the next elections.
The CHP condemned this decision, appealing to it “an attempted coup against our next president”.
Several surveys targeting imamoglu
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office launched two distinct investigations against Imamoglu, accusing it of:
- Corruption and corruption
- Lead a criminal organization
- Tender rigging in municipal contracts
- Help Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist group
According to prosecutors, the first survey involves 100 suspects, including journalists and businessmen, as part of the fraudulent tenders granted by the municipality of Istanbul.
The second case accuses Imamoglu and six others of providing material support to the PKK terrorist group. During his 40 -year -old terrorist campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization in Türkiye, in the United States and the EU – was responsible for the death of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.
Imamoglu promises to fight the charges
After his detention, Imamoglu published a video on X (formerly Twitter), saying that he would not go back to the pressure.
“I will not give up. I will continue to stand against these injustices,” he said.
In separate development, the University of Istanbul canceled the Imamoglu diploma one day before its detention. If it is confirmed, this decision could disqualify it of the candidacy for the Turkiye presidential elections, which raises new concerns among the opposition leaders who claim to be part of a coordinated effort to put aside the strongest challenger of Erdogan.
The next presidential election is scheduled for 2028, but analysts think that Erdogan could request an early vote if he decides to request another mandate. As part of the Turkiye Constitution, Erdogan can only run again if Parliament calls for a first election before the expiration of its current mandate.
Authorities prohibit protests in Istanbul
In the midst of increasing tensions, the office of the Governor of Istanbul imposed a four -day ban on all public demonstrations and gatherings across the city.
CHP and other opposition leaders condemned repression, appealing to an authoritarian decision to suppress political opponents before the elections.
Meanwhile, the government of Erdogan defended the arrests, insisting that they are part of the efforts to combat corruption and the fight against current terrorism.
