Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has decried what it called an unprecedented legal onslaught against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as prosecutors filed sweeping new charges against the jailed mayor.
Widely regarded as the opposition’s standard-bearer in Turkey’s 2028 presidential race, Imamoglu now faces 142 offences, detailed in a nearly 4,000-page indictment.
Charges range from bribery and embezzlement to extortion, money laundering, and organised crime connections.
According to prosecutors, the total penalties could result in more than 2,000 years in prison.
In a separate case, a Turkish court filed charges of “political espionage” against Imamoglu, claiming that Imamoglu leaked Istanbul citizens’ personal data to consolidate foreign financial support for a potential presidential campaign.
The case is allegedly connected to a businessman who was detained in July for allegedly working for foreign intelligence agencies.
‘Entirely political’
In a post on X, CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel denounced the charges, which he deemed were “entirely political” attacks aimed at discrediting Imamoglu ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
“This case is not legal, it is entirely political,” wrote Ozel.
“Its purpose is to stop the Republican People’s Party, which came first in the last local elections, and to block its presidential candidate.”
The latest indictment connects Imamoglu to a criminal network, portraying the jailed mayor as the leader of a vast criminal network with massive influence “like an octopus”.
Some allegations – such as forging a university degree and engaging in political espionage – carry the potential for a political ban.
Despite the charges, CHP said that Imamoglu remains the political party’s front-runner for the upcoming presidential race.
“If you accused an innocent person of just one of these crimes, it would be a great injustice.”
“When you put all of them on one person, it’s a major crime. But his only crime is running for the presidency of this country,” said Ozel.
Long history of suppressing opposition, critics
Turkey’s widening crackdown against the opposition has intensified nationwide scrutiny against the government.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously insisted that the judiciary is acting independently based on ongoing investigations into corruption and misconduct allegations.
However, since the CHP won major municipalities in 2024, 16 of its mayors have been jailed in what critics deemed a targeted attack against the opposition.
Independent media outlets critical of the government have also been seized, shut down, and prosecuted.
Citing the arrest of journalist Furkan Karabay, who was detained in May for allegations of insulting the president, the Media Freedom Rapid Response said that the overall state of democracy and media freedom in Turkey remains low.
“The reporting period saw a further increase in arrests and detentions of journalists, underscoring the disproportionate use of legal measures to intimidate and silence media,” the European Union’s press freedom monitor said in its November 13 report.
Elan Castanares 
Newsjustnews writers 
Shameeka Voyiya