Ekrem İmamoğlu detained! How did we get to March 19 step by step?

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is the subject of numerous investigations, was highly likely to be announced as the CHP's presidential candidate on March 23. However, Istanbul University announced yesterday that İmamoğlu's diploma had been cancelled.

Thus, İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy has been effectively blocked.

This morning, detention procedures began for İmamoğlu and over 100 people as part of two separate investigations conducted from Istanbul. It had been rumored in political circles for a long time that an operation would be carried out against İmamoğlu and many CHP-run municipalities.

Since October 8, when Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek was appointed as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, investigations into opposition municipalities have been accelerated.

Turkey has been rapidly moving toward today's developments since October 2024. At this point, it is useful to rewind the film a bit and recall the critical thresholds...

October 8 - Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek was appointed as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor and began his duties.

October 30 – Following Akın Gürlek's assumption of office, CHP Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer was arrested on charges of “being a member of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization.”

November 29 - The statements made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding the aforementioned arrests during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly also became a subject of judicial proceedings. An investigation was launched against Özel on charges of “publicly insulting a public official due to their duty” and “targeting individuals who have served in counter-terrorism” due to his remarks directed at Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

January 10 - DEM Party co-mayors of Mersin Akdeniz Municipality, Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan, along with municipal council members, were detained.

January 13 - An operation was conducted in Istanbul against municipalities on allegations of “tender corruption.” CHP Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was detained. Akpolat was arrested by the court to which he was referred on January 16. Akpolat was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior on January 17. Among the 23 people arrested as part of the investigation were a deputy mayor from Beşiktaş Municipality and Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who was alleged to be the leader of the organization.

January 20 - Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was detained as part of an investigation launched due to remarks containing “insults and threats” directed at President Erdoğan. Özdağ, who was detained in Ankara and brought to Istanbul, was arrested on January 21 by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace after his statement. It was announced that Özdağ was released with judicial control measures regarding the “insulting the President” charge directed at him, but was arrested for inciting the public to hatred and hostility.

January 24 - Famous talent manager Ayşe Barım was detained as part of an investigation reopened years later regarding the Gezi Park protests. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that Barım directed the artists affiliated with the agency she owns to participate in the Gezi Park protests in May-June 2013. Barım was arrested on January 27 on charges of “aiding in the attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey” and was sent to Silivri Prison.

January 27 - An investigation was launched against Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş and journalists Barış Pehlivan, Kürşad Oğuz, Serhan Asker, and Seda Selek on allegations that they recorded and shared without permission a phone conversation with an expert witness, whom IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu had identified and stated was involved in the investigations against the CHP during a press conference. Suat Toktaş was arrested on charges of “recording non-public conversations between individuals, attempting to influence a judicial officer, and publishing recorded conversations through the press,” while Barış Pehlivan, Kürşad Oğuz, Serhan Asker, and Seda Selek were released under judicial control.

February 18 - Simultaneous operations were conducted in 10 provinces as part of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) investigation. 52 people were detained. 30 people whose statements were completed as part of the investigation were arrested on February 22. Among those arrested were journalists Ercüment Akdeniz, Elif Akgül, and Yıldız Tar, as well as artist Pınar Aydınlar. The prosecutor's statement claimed that it was determined that aid was provided to the terrorist organization through activities called “urban consensus.”

March 11 - 34 people were detained in 4 CHP-run municipalities—Ataşehir, Maltepe, Şişli, and Sarıyer—on allegations of providing financing to the DHKP/C through tenders between 2014 and 2016. As part of the investigation, former Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç was called to testify as a 'victim,' while former Şişli Mayor Hayri İnönü and former Şişli Deputy Mayor Emir Sarıgül were called as 'witnesses.' 17 people were arrested during the operations. Among those arrested was former Sarıyer Mayor Şükrü Genç.

March 19 - Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose diploma was cancelled by the Istanbul University from which he graduated, was detained. The prosecutor's office announced that two separate operations were being conducted regarding “Urban Consensus” and “Corruption and Bribery.” It was learned that detention warrants were issued for over 100 people as part of the investigations. Names such as Şişli Mayor Resul Ekrem Şahan, IBB Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, IBB Press Advisor Murat Ongun, and advertiser Necati Özkan, who ran İmamoğlu's campaign, were also among those detained.