Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained by Turkish authorities on Wednesday in relation to corruption and terrorism investigations. Around 100 others associated with the mayor, including his press adviser Murat Ongun, were also subjected to detention orders, as reported by the state-run news agency Anadolu Agency. This action occurred shortly before the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was set to conduct a primary election where Imamoglu was expected to be selected as its presidential candidate. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel characterized the detention as “a coup attempt against our next president.” Videos from CNN Turk depicted police in riot gear and numerous security vehicles outside Imamoglu’s residence. The detentions were criticized as politically motivated and part of an ongoing government crackdown on the opposition following Erdogan’s defeat in local elections last year.
The mayor’s detention had significant implications, leading to disruptions in financial markets and triggering losses in the currency and stock market. The Turkish lira dropped more than 10% against the dollar, reaching its weakest level on record, amid investor concerns sparked by Imamoglu’s detention. Stock trading in Turkey faced challenges, with a sharp decline in the main BIST 100 index causing a temporary halt in trading.
Imamoglu and others associated with him were accused of involvement in a criminal organization, extortion, bribery, and fraud. Additionally, Imamoglu is under investigation for alleged support of organizations deemed as terrorist by Turkey, including the PKK and KCK. Imamoglu’s wife dismissed the accusations against him as baseless slander, emphasizing that the truth would be revealed in due course.
The detention of the mayor of Istanbul, a crucial political battleground, followed Istanbul University’s announcement that it had revoked Imamoglu’s degree due to irregularities, disrupting his presidential aspirations.
Imamoglu expressed his intention to challenge the University’s decision, which he deemed as illegal and beyond its authority, stating that he would pursue legal action. He criticized the Istanbul University Board of Directors, calling their decision “unlawful” and emphasizing that accountability will be sought in due time. As the current mayor, elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, Imamoglu faces the possibility of being disqualified from running for president in the 2028 elections, although analysts speculate that Erdogan may seek early elections to circumvent term limits. Despite the challenges, Imamoglu vowed to stand firm against what he described as “bullying” in a video statement. This report includes contributions from CNN’s Olesya Dmitracova. Stay updated with the latest news by signing up for CNN’s news and newsletters on CNN.com.
