Turkey Imamoglu's party: indictment is "political propaganda"
The party of imprisoned opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu rejects the demand for more than 2,000 years in prison for the former Istanbul mayor as "political propaganda".
12.11.2025, 11:41
SDA
"With this indictment, the government has revealed that it wants to tear this country away from democracy," said Deniz Yücel, spokesman for the republican People's Party (CHP), in Ankara. It is not a legal text, but a political one that targets the entire party.
Imamoglu is considered a promising opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was arrested in March on terror and corruption charges and removed as mayor of Istanbul. On Tuesday, the Istanbul public prosecutor's office presented the indictment - it demands a total of more than 2,400 years in prison for 142 offenses.
Among other things, the politician is accused of founding and leading a criminal organization as well as bribery and money laundering.
Imamoglu's family and journalists are also facing imprisonment
The public prosecutor's office is also demanding sentences for more than 400 other suspects - including Imamoglu's father and son. They are accused of money laundering, which could lead to years in prison, the state news agency Anadolu reported. Several journalists are also on the list.
Among the accused journalists is Rusen Cakir, one of the country's most prominent liberal-critical voices. According to Anadolu, he is accused of supporting a criminal organization and could face up to four years in prison.
The indictment still has to be accepted by the court, which is considered a formality.
