Ekrem Imamoglu denies charges that he tried to influence Turkiye’s judiciary in remarks he made about officials.
Published On 31 Jan 2025
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure and potential challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has appeared in court to deny charges that he tried to influence the judiciary.
Imamoglu, 53, appeared in Istanbul’s Caglayan courthouse on Friday to face charges of threatening, insulting and targeting an official and attempting to influence a trial.
“I did not engage in any actions targeting any individual. It is impossible for me to act in such a way. I do not accept the charges against me,” Imamoglu told prosecutors.
The charges were brought over Imamoglu’s criticism of legal cases brought against municipalities run by the opposition, including his own Republican People’s Party (CHP). His testimony related to remarks he made about a chief prosecutor and a court expert.
The case against him is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by opposition politicians in Turkiye, where rights groups said judicial independence has eroded during Erdogan’s two-decade rule.
Imamoglu has already been convicted of charges of insulting members of Turkiye’s Supreme Electoral Council and faces a political ban if his conviction in 2022 is upheld on appeal. He is also on trial on charges that he was involved in the alleged rigging of bids in a tender dating back to 2015.
Thousands of his supporters gathered outside the court on Friday to protest against the legal actions against Imamoglu.
Tensions escalated when riot police blocked a CHP bus from approaching the courthouse. The move led to clashes between the protesters and police, who responded with tear gas. It was not clear if any arrests were made.
Imamoglu later addressed the crowds from the t