The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, declared that he will not submit to pressure following a court ruling to imprison him pending trial in a corruption investigation.
“Together, we will eradicate this blow, this dark mark on our democracy… I stand firm, I will not yield,” Mr. Imamoglu stated in a post on X.
A court has officially ordered his arrest in a corruption investigation, only four days after his detention triggered significant unrest in Turkey, the worst in over a decade.
The mayor is one of 100 individuals facing investigation for corruption, and he is also under scrutiny in a separate case regarding “terror-related” charges, with the court expected to deliver a ruling on that matter shortly.
“Despite strong suspicions of aiding an armed terrorist organization, since the decision to arrest him for financial crimes has already been made, his arrest is not considered necessary at this moment,” the court explained.
Mr. Imamoglu has refuted the allegations, labeling them as “unimaginable accusations and slanders.”
Ballot papers of Ekrem Imamoglu, the only candidate from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), during the presidential primaries vote at a polling station in Istanbul.
Yesterday, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul municipal building and the principal courthouse. Hundreds of police officers, equipped with tear gas and pepper spray, were deployed to disperse the demonstrators, who retaliated by throwing firecrackers and other objects.
Clashes also erupted in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital city of Ankara for a third consecutive night, with police employing water cannons against the crowds.
During the protests, Turkish authorities have detained 323 individuals, as reported by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
“Any attempt to disrupt public order will be met with a firm response,” the minister stated.
At 54 years old, Mr. Imamoglu, who is leading in some opinion polls against the Turkish leader, was expected to be named the official presidential candidate of the CHP in a matter of days.
The next elections are scheduled for 2028, although Mr. Erdogan has reached his term limit as president after previously serving as prime minister.
If he wishes to seek another term, he must either call for an early election or pursue a constitutional amendment.
Having governed Turkey for over 22 years, the president has accused the CHP of attempting to “provoke” the nation and stated that they would not tolerate any acts of vandalism.
