Key facts
- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted NATO leaders in Ankara on Wednesday.
- Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is facing multiple corruption and other charges.
- Imamoglu protested his legal rights being disregarded during court proceedings.
- The prosecution alleges Imamoglu led a criminal organization involved in widespread corruption.
- Imamoglu stated that no evidence has been presented to prove the prosecution's case.
- A new investigation has been launched against Imamoglu for allegedly threatening a public official.
As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted NATO leaders in Ankara on Wednesday, his main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, defended himself against corruption charges in court. Imamoglu, representing the Republican People’s Party (CHP), protested the judge's decision to bar him from hearings, stating his legal rights were disregarded.
Imamoglu faces a large case alleging he led a criminal organization involved in widespread corruption from 2015, when he was mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district. The 3,900-page indictment claims the goal was to financially benefit Imamoglu and co-defendants through bid rigging and payoffs, and to finance his rise within the CHP, ultimately leading to his presidential candidacy. Imamoglu stated that no evidence or documents have been presented to prove the prosecution's case. If convicted, he could face over 2,000 years in prison.
Adding to his legal troubles, the Bakirkoy Prosector’s Office announced a fresh investigation into Imamoglu for allegedly threatening a public official during his courtroom comments. This comes as Imamoglu is already involved in two other separate cases, one alleging fraudulent acquisition of his bachelor's degree and another claiming political and military espionage.
Critics, including European Parliament rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, have pointed to the timing of these hearings, suggesting they are politically motivated to coincide with the NATO summit in Ankara. Imamoglu, selected as the CHP’s future presidential candidate, is seen as a main challenger to Erdogan's 23-year rule. He gained prominence by winning Istanbul for the CHP in 2019 and retained his seat in the 2024 local elections.