Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Turkey Prosecutor Seeks 2,000 Years for Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu
Imagine a mayor in a big Turkish city named Ekrem Imamoglu, who is also a major rival to the country's president.
A prosecutor has asked a court to put this mayor in jail for an extremely long time – 2,000 years!
The prosecutor says the mayor led a group that did bad things like bribery and cheating, which cost the city a lot of money.
The prosecutor also thinks the mayor's political party might have gotten money in illegal ways and wants the court to think about closing it down.
The mayor and his party say these accusations are not true and are just a way to stop him from being a political opponent.
They believe the charges are unfair and politically motivated.
An Istanbul prosecutor is seeking a 2,000-year prison sentence for opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Imamoglu is accused of leading a corruption network that allegedly cost the state $3.8 billion.
The indictment includes 402 suspects and alleges crimes such as bribery, fraud, and bid-rigging.
The prosecutor also requested that the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) be considered for closure due to alleged illicit financing.
Imamoglu and his party deny the charges, calling them politically motivated, while the government's stance is that the courts are independent.
- Who
- Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and 401 other suspects
- What
- Prosecutor is seeking a 2,000-year prison term for Mayor Imamoglu and has urged a higher court to consider banning his party, the CHP, over alleged corruption and illicit financing.
- When
- Tuesday
- Where
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Why
- Allegations of leading a corruption network that cost the state $3.8 billion and illicit financing of the opposition party.
Opposition CHP and Mayor Imamoglu
Turkish Prosecutor and Government
Nature of Allegations
Opposition CHP and Mayor Imamoglu
The charges are 'nonsense' and 'shameful,' politically motivated, and designed to derail Imamoglu's presidential aspirations. The indictment is a 'memorandum from the coup plotters.'
Turkish Prosecutor and Government
The prosecutor has detailed accusations of forming a criminal organization, bribery, fraud, and bid-rigging, leading to significant state losses.
Party's Finances
Opposition CHP and Mayor Imamoglu
Denies allegations of illicit party financing and states its transactions are not prohibited acts.
Turkish Prosecutor and Government
The prosecutor's office alleges the CHP was financed through illicit funds and its transactions constitute 'prohibited acts.'
- Mayor Charged
- Ekrem Imamoglu (Istanbul Mayor)
- Prosecutor
- Akin Gurlek (Istanbul Chief Prosecutor)
- Alleged Crimes
- Forming a criminal organization, bribery, fraud, bid-rigging
- Alleged State Loss
- $3.8 billion
- Number of Suspects
- 402, including the mayor
- Party Facing Closure
- Republican People's Party (CHP)
