A Turkish prosecutor is seeking a staggering 2000-year prison sentence for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been incarcerated since March while facing trial. İmamoğlu, a prominent figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), vehemently denies the corruption charges leveled against him.
The indictment, submitted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, accuses İmamoğlu and 401 others of involvement in a vast illicit enrichment scheme. The prosecution alleges that this network caused damages to the state amounting to 160 billion lira (approximately $3.81 billion) over a decade.
The Turkish Public Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly filed 142 charges against İmamoğlu. The extensive 4,000-page indictment includes allegations of managing a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, extortion, and bid rigging.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has requested Turkey’s High Court of Appeals to initiate legal proceedings aimed at closing the Republican People’s Party. The justification for this request is based on accusations that the CHP received funding from illegitimate sources.
The Republican People’s Party has been subjected to what it describes as an unprecedented legal campaign over the past year, which it characterizes as politically motivated. The government, however, refutes these allegations.
İmamoğlu’s arrest in March sparked significant unrest in Turkey. The Istanbul Mayor is considered a strong potential candidate for the presidency, with some supporters viewing him as the only politician capable of defeating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an election. His detention triggered the most intense protests in Turkey since 2013.
Supporters of the CHP, which emerged victorious in last year’s local elections against the ruling coalition, accuse the Turkish government of attempting to weaken the opposition by exploiting the judicial system. The legal battles surrounding İmamoğlu and the CHP are viewed by many as a critical test of Turkish democracy. The situation remains highly sensitive and is being closely watched both domestically and internationally.
