Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Arrested for Espionage: What We Know

The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office has achieved the arrest of the suspended Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, political technologist Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag within the framework of an investigation under the article for 'political espionage'. After interrogations, they were brought to court, which decided on their arrest. According to the investigation, the 'commercial criminal organization' created by Imamoglu was engaged in corrupt schemes to finance his participation in presidential elections and espionage aimed at gaining international support.

Imamoglu and Ozkan attempted to influence the 2019 elections through social media and internal voter correspondence, including through municipal accounts. All of them deny the charges, and Imamoglu himself called the espionage accusations 'a disgrace that humiliates his entire life'. It should be noted that Imamoglu's detention took place in March in connection with a corruption investigation following a search of his home.

• The court has arrested the suspended Mayor of Istanbul and two others on espionage charges.
• The charges were brought within the framework of an investigation under the article for 'political espionage' and corruption.
• The accused deny the charges, calling them 'a disgrace'.

As a result of the investigation, important details about corruption schemes and influence on the political process through social media have become known in Turkish government circles.