ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Prosecutors filed new espionage charges against Istanbul’s jailed mayor on Monday, intensifying the judicial pressure on the opposition politician seen as a top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The new charges against Ekrem Imamoglu stem from an investigation launched last week into alleged links between his political campaign and a businessman arrested in July for reportedly carrying out intelligence activities on behalf of foreign governments.
Imamoglu’s former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag were also charged.
The state-run Anadolu Agency said Imamoglu — who his already in pretrial detention on corruption charges — is suspected, among other things, of transferring personal data of Istanbul residents as part of an effort to secure international funding for his campaign.
Imamoglu rejected the accusations as “nonsense” in a statement posted on social media.
“Even the claim that I burned down Rome would have been more credible than this nonsense,” Imamoglu said. “Our struggle against this mindset that has sworn to ruin our nation’s future has now grown even stronger.”
Hundreds of supporters had rallied outside Istanbul’s main courthouse on Sunday as Imamoglu was questioned by prosecutors. It was the first time Imamoglu had left Istanbul’s Marmara Prison, on the outskirts of Istanbul, in seven months.
Critics view Imamoglu’s arrest — along with those of other mayors from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP — as part of a broader crackdown on the opposition, which made significant gains in last year’s local elections. Several CHP-run municipalities have faced waves of arrests throughout the year.
Imamoglu’s arrest in March sparked nationwide protests. Erdogan’s government insists that Turkey’s judiciary is independent and that the investigations are strictly focused on corruption.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Turkish prosecutors file new espionage charges against Istanbul’s jailed mayor WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about turkish prosecutors file new espionage charges against istanbul s jailed mayor was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Turkish prosecutors file new espionage charges against Istanbul’s jailed mayor )
Also on site :
- I-70 closed in Glenwood Canyon for safety concerns, police activity
- Russian cat becomes world champion 2025
- 2 dead, 1 injured in overnight Westminster house fire