Overview
- Ekrem Imamoglu appeared in court nearly a year after his March 19, 2025 arrest, facing 142 charges alongside about 407 co-defendants in a mass proceeding at the Silivri complex.
- Prosecutors say the counts could yield sentences totaling up to 2,430 years, with allegations ranging from corruption and embezzlement to espionage.
- Opposition figures describe the case as a bid to block Imamoglu’s presidential challenge after his rise from the CHP’s 2024 local election gains.
- Authorities banned gatherings within one kilometer of the Silivri court through the end of March and capped attendance to 25 journalists, including five from international outlets.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the proceedings as politically motivated, while a separate challenge to Imamoglu’s university degree could independently bar a presidential run.