Espionage Charges Against İmamoğlu
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued a detention order against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ as part of an investigation into “espionage” allegations. The individuals had previously been suspended from their positions.
According to the ruling issued by the Criminal Court of Peace, the suspects are accused of “political espionage.” The court document alleges that a profit-driven criminal organization, allegedly led by İmamoğlu, engaged in espionage activities to secure international support and financial resources for his presidential candidacy. The file further states that İmamoğlu and Özkan, by accessing data from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, transferred information to digital platforms and, through an individual named Hüseyin Gün, carried out analysis and reporting operations.
Another section of the report claims that Merdan Yanardağ, under Gün’s direction, managed the media aspect of these espionage activities through the TELE1 television channel and received financial benefits in return. Testimony from Hüseyin Gün, who benefited from the provisions of “effective remorse,” confirmed parts of these allegations.
The detention order sparked widespread political reactions. Özgür Özel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), delivered a press statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse, strongly criticizing the decision: “A day will come when those who spread these slanders will be held accountable.” He described the legal process as “contradictory” and added: “The government had previously raised accusations such as theft and corruption, which proved baseless, and now it resorts to the slander of espionage.” Özel also recalled that in the past, information belonging to security institutions and ministries had been stolen, stressing that responsibility for that should lie with those institutions.
Ekrem İmamoğlu also issued his first reaction after the detention order via the “Presidential Candidacy Office” account. In his message, he wrote: “Nothing is real, everything is possible… They have turned my beautiful country into exactly such a place. Even the claim of burning Rome is more real than this nonsense. Our struggle against this mentality, sworn to destroy the future of our nation, will now become even stronger. There is no other path to salvation; either all of us together or none of us. Never lose hope. With courage, perseverance, and determination, we will succeed.”
