The Case of Ekrem İmamoğlu: A Timeline of Legal Events

Introduction: A Political Rivalry

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, is a notable figure in Turkish politics and a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As the presidential candidate for the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), İmamoğlu is set to challenge Erdoğan in the 2028 elections. This is an account of the increasing legal challenges against him, including accusations of corruption and political espionage. These events are happening amid political actions and legal pressure on the opposition. The timeline of this legal situation begins with the first actions that led to his imprisonment in early 2025.

The Initial Arrest: Corruption Charges in Spring 2025

Spring 2025 was when Ekrem İmamoğlu was first put in prison. The timing of the arrest was important, as it happened during investigations into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and just before the CHP's primary elections for its presidential candidate. This put pressure on the opposition and might have been meant to disrupt its selection process and hurt its leading candidate.

The initial events happened quickly:

• March 18, 2025: Authorities said İmamoğlu's university diploma was invalid.

• March 19, 2025: İmamoğlu was detained.

• March 23, 2025: He was arrested on corruption charges, changing his status to imprisoned.

These actions against the mayor of Turkey's biggest city were a big increase in legal and political pressure, marking the start of a long legal fight.

More Charges: Legal Problems Mid-Year

Even though İmamoğlu was already in prison on corruption charges, the prosecution added more charges in mid-2025. This made his legal situation worse and kept him in prison.

In July 2025, İmamoğlu got another prison sentence for allegedly insulting and threatening the Istanbul chief prosecutor. This additional sentence was followed by a more serious charge in the fall, which changed the legal battle from professional misconduct to national security.

Espionage Accusation: A New Charge in Autumn 2025

The legal case against İmamoğlu took a turn in autumn 2025 when he was charged with political espionage. This changed the situation, from supposed financial wrongdoing to a matter of national security and treason. This kind of charge is often used to discredit opponents, and it allowed the investigation to include other opposition figures and media groups.

Key events in late October:

• October 24, 2025: The Tele1 news channel, which was critical of the government, was put under state control through the appointment of a trustee. This showed that the government was willing to use the espionage allegations to silence critical media and control the narrative around the case.

• October 26, 2025: An Istanbul court issued an arrest warrant for İmamoğlu, Tele1 editor Mardan Yanardağ, and political consultant Necati Özkan in connection with the espionage charge.

• October 27, 2025: The state-run Anadolu Agency reported on the arrest warrant, bringing the allegations to national attention.

The court claimed that:

• Criminal Organization: An organization, supposedly led by İmamoğlu, was running corruption schemes to create a fund for his presidential campaign.

• Espionage for International Support: The prosecution said that this organization was also involved in espionage to get international support for his political goals.

• Voter Data Misuse: İmamoğlu and Özkan are accused of illegally accessing social media accounts and private messages of voters to gain an advantage in the 2019 mayoral elections.

• Data Transfer and Analysis: Özkan is said to have transferred city data to an internet platform called Ostin on İmamoğlu's orders and prepared analyses with help from foreign intelligence services.

These accusations led to a strong response from İmamoğlu and his party.

Official Denials and Political Context

Ekrem İmamoğlu and the Republican People's Party (CHP) denied the charges. They said that the legal process was political persecution meant to remove a key opponent of the government.

İmamoğlu denied the espionage charge in court and in a statement from prison. He posted on his X social media page:

Belə bir böhtan, yalan və sui-qəsd şeytanın ağlına belə gəlməzdi! Biz sözlə ifadə olunmayacaq qədər utancverici bir əxlaqsızlıqla üz-üzəyik!

In English: Such a slander, lie, and conspiracy would not even occur to the devil! We are faced with a shamefully immoral act beyond words!

The CHP has said that the legal actions against its members are politically motivated and designed to eliminate potential rivals to President Erdoğan.

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture

The prosecution of Ekrem İmamoğlu is a case of using legal means to remove a political rival before an election. As the CHP's presidential candidate and President Erdoğan's main opponent for the 2028 elections, the charges against him are seen by the opposition as an effort to take him out of politics.

This case is part of a pattern of legal pressure on the opposition, with many CHP members and officials facing corruption charges. The government denies any political motivation, but the CHP says these actions are judicial harassment. While the legal pressure on İmamoğlu shows the executive's power over the opposition, the recent dropping of a case against the CHP's 2023 party congress shows that the legal situation is still contested, and outcomes are not always certain.