Ekrem İmamoğlu, Merdan Yanardağ, and Necati Özkan appear in court in espionage case

The first hearing of the "espionage" case, in which detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Merdan Yanardağ, Necati Özkan, and Hüseyin Gün are being tried, was held today in Silivri. The defendants face demands for prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years on charges of "political espionage."

The "espionage" case, which led to the arrests of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ following the testimony of Hüseyin Gün, who benefited from effective remorse provisions, began today.

The trial is being conducted by the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court in Silivri. The indictment seeks prison sentences of 15 to 20 years each for Gün, İmamoğlu, Özkan, and Yanardağ on charges of "political espionage."

Businessman Hüseyin Gün, who is being tried without arrest in the İBB investigation on allegations of being an "organization leader," was arrested by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on July 4, 2025, as part of the "espionage" investigation.

Following the testimony given by Gün under the scope of effective remorse, CHP presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Campaign Director Necati Özkan, and TELE 1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ were arrested on October 27, 2025.

Ekrem İmamoğlu and Necati Özkan, who are already detained in the İBB case that began on March 9, are also presenting their defense in the "espionage" file today.

Merdan Yanardağ, who has been detained for approximately 7 months, appeared before the judge for the first time.

Hüseyin Gün, who is being tried without arrest in the İBB file despite allegations of being an "organization leader" but has been in prison since July 4 as part of this file, was also present at the hearing.

17.00 | HEARING ADJOURNED UNTIL TOMORROW

The espionage case concluded for the day following the defense statements of İmamoğlu's lawyers.

It will continue tomorrow with Merdan Yanardağ's defense.

16.44 | EKREM İMAMOĞLU'S LAWYERS PRESENTED THEIR DEFENSE

The hearing continued with the defense statements of İmamoğlu's lawyers.

15.55 | İMAMOĞLU'S DEFENSE CONCLUDED

Ekrem İmamoğlu completed his defense, followed by cross-examination.

15.35 | İMAMOĞLU: 'I AM WARNING BOTH ERDOĞAN AND BAHÇELİ'

Speaking about the new courtroom built in Silivri, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "Let Erdoğan and the Minister of Justice come and open it together; they would suit it very well."

Ekrem İmamoğlu also addressed Erdoğan and Bahçeli:

"I am issuing a very major warning. This state, this flag is at risk. Such a Minister of Justice is damaging the entire fundamental stance of Turkey. Instead of making excuses to destroy my family and my honor regarding this slander and fabricated setup, they should intervene as those responsible for the government. I am warning both the President and Devlet Bahçeli."

15.29 | İMAMOĞLU: I WILL CONTINUE MY LEGAL STRUGGLE!

Ekrem İmamoğlu continued his defense with the following words:

“When I entered Silivri, my strength was one hundred; now it is one hundred thousand. I state it clearly from here; to those who signed these fabricated indictments... To those who manage these unlawful processes... To those who unlawfully canceled my diploma... To those who make decisions through irregular trials... To those who damage justice by changing judges in my cases... And against this mentality that makes moves to disrupt the constitutional order, as long as the Creator gives life to this body, I will continue my legal struggle.

I declare this in your presence today, Mr. President, Honorable Panel. Let whoever wants to take this and put it by their bedside. I have neither eaten anyone's rights... nor have I let my rights be eaten. And I will defend my rights to the end. I will continue my struggle to the end so that those who persecute people by instrumentalizing the law are held accountable before the law. I will never let go of this lawlessness carried out by the judiciary.

I promise here in the presence of my 86 million citizens: The power that will make me give up this struggle has not been born yet. I only bow before the Creator. And that is while praying. Now they have come out, trying to label Ekrem İmamoğlu a 'traitor' and a 'spy' with this trash indictment. Why? Because for some, the law is no longer a tool of justice; it has become a tool for positions, promotions, and personal career calculations. Look at the files... Look at the processes... What happened?

The Chief Prosecutor became a minister. The deputy chief prosecutor who signed these files became a deputy minister. Now, what will happen if those who prepared this indictment come to other positions tomorrow? Reputation is not gained like this. Reputation is gained not by bending and twisting the law, but with justice. That is why I say: This indictment is not a legal text. This indictment is part of a system of self-interest.

I say it clearly, Mr. President: None of the cases filed against me are a real trial. I am giving names to each of these.

First option:

A 'Benefit-ment' (Menfaatname).

Second option:

A 'Slander-ment' (İftiraname).

Third option:

A 'Gossip-ment' (Gıybetname).

Fourth option:

A 'Suggestion-ment' (Telkinname).

Fifth option?

All of them... I mark all of them. Because there is no law here. There are texts prepared for the sake of political goals.”

15.08 | İMAMOĞLU: 'WHO ARE YOU FOOLING, WHO ARE YOU DECEIVING?'

İmamoğlu continued his defense with the following words:

“I am here today because of one of the strangest scenarios produced by the mentality that disregards the national will and a handful of its apparatuses in the judiciary, a scenario written by that very mentality itself, and because of a so-called espionage accusation by a director instructed by it. Do you know what this indictment is? It is a complete legal murder. I can remind you of it many times when the time comes. Page 159 of the indictment. All of these are trash anyway. All of them. If you ask, they have prepared an indictment. Trash. Copy-paste, photocopy. It is a pity, Mr. President, Honorable Panel, do you know that? Yes, I am involved in how many cases. I have very respectable lawyers; it is their duty, they are reading, it is their profession. I declare from here, I have not read a single page of any indictment, I did not even feel the need to, do you know? Not the 4000-page İBB case, nor this one, I have not read a single page and I will not read it.

But this is enough; the end: 'It is understood that the crime of political espionage was aimed at having a say in our country's politics, especially in Istanbul, by ensuring that the suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu, supported by manipulating the 2019 local elections, won the election...' Is it a crime, Mr. President? Is it a crime to win the election in Istanbul and have a say in our country's politics, especially in Istanbul, Mr. President? It is understood that activities were carried out in line with this goal. Now who will call this a case? Who will call it an espionage case? Who can say that? This is a political case. It is a political case put forward by a mentality that is afraid to face me at the ballot box in the election, Mr. President, Honorable Panel. You will make all these things happen, and then you will pass a law in Parliament, and foreign investments will come running to this country. Get out of here! Who are you fooling, who are you deceiving?

If you have money here and there, you bring it, I don't know. Whatever I have is in this country. But if someone else has it, they bring it, I don't know. Clean foreign capital will come to this country from abroad and invest. I am a businessman. It has been exactly 50 years since I learned to make bread out of stone. Since I was six years old. I grew up learning that from my mother and father, I am a businessman. I built thousands of apartments, housing, workplaces, I made thousands of projects. I am a businessman. What is capital? What is ethical capital? How is ethical business done? Where does money go? How does a person lend money to someone? I know what kind of person is not to be lent money to. The country is no different from a person, it is the same thing. In this respect, they are doing a disservice to this country. It is a pity for Mehmet Şimşek, it is a pity. It is a pity, or it is a pity for people like him who chase after this business.”

14.50 | HERE ARE THE DOCUMENTS HÜSEYİN GÜN PRESENTED TO THE COURT

The documents that Hüseyin Gün presented to the court following his lawyers' "Fuat Oktay and full authorization certificate" defense have emerged.

14.47 | STRIKING DEFENSE FROM İMAMOĞLU: 'THIS INDICTMENT IS A LEGAL MURDER'

Making harsh criticisms of the indictment, İmamoğlu said:

“After Mr. Hüseyin's statements, what I will tell became even more difficult, but none of what I will tell here today and the statements I will put forward are about Mr. Hüseyin. We are here as a result of an indictment that is shameful on behalf of our state and our nation. A fool threw a stone into a well, and they hope someone will take this stone out. I will not address this small-minded person. I am not interested in either the stone or the well. There is no one who does not know that it is an empty indictment.

We are being tried in another case as well. One of the friends I am being tried with in that case is Mr. Necati. We are experiencing a similar version of this there. Let me underline that after Mr. Hüseyin's statements just now, all the trials are entirely political, are acts done to the detriment of the nation, are done in exchange for benefits, and that the addressee is the prosecution.

My feelings are at a level that words cannot contain. I am very comfortable, I am very proud. I am honored. I am happy to reveal how much this great struggle harms these tiny brains. It has now turned into a national struggle. The greatest opposition struggle is being waged in Silivri. We continue this struggle sometimes from a 12-square-meter cell and sometimes in judicial processes that should not have turned into a case.

We are resisting under pressure that is difficult to describe, under psychological violence, and under conditions where human rights are violated. Because we know that we will win. We are 86 million citizens. We are not leaving anyone out, except for these ambitious people. The political interventions and scenarios created to keep the black order alive and not to get up from the seat he sits on, with the threats of the prosecution, hostage-taking, baseless statements, and the apparatuses that implement this... We are in a time period that bows the head of Turkish law.

(Referring to Hüseyin Gün's interrogation) He refrained from talking about effective remorse. Turkish law puts people in this situation. What isolation, what threats people face... Are you looking for threats to their children, their spouses... There is no crime, no evidence, yet they are told 'confess your innocence'. (Reacting to a social media post by a media member close to the government, he says, 'Instead of attacking me, prove your friend's innocence'. Is there such a thing?

While these tortures and cruelties were centered in one place for many cities in Turkey, the proceedings were carried out and continue through the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Espionage is the slander of the century, İBB is the slander of the century. I am under a judicial attack built on destroying an opponent just because a mentality in fear does not want to get up from the seat, thinking he will defeat him for the 5th time. This indictment is a complete legal murder.”

14.25 | HEARING BEGAN WITH "İMAMOĞLU'S DEFENSE"

İmamoğlu, Yanardağ, Özkan, and Gün were brought back to the courtroom after the break. The audience showed their support with applause. One audience member shouted, "My President Ekrem, those who do not bow will win."

With the arrival of the Court Panel, the hearing started again. Ekrem İmamoğlu began his defense.

13.20 | İMAMOĞLU ADDRESSED PRESS MEMBERS AND THE AUDIENCE

As he was leaving the courtroom, Ekrem İmamoğlu addressed the audience and press members:

"We are very well, we are dealing with such bad things. Glad you exist. It is shameful, but that's how it is... You saw, the adjectives are running out one by one, what are you going to do..."

13.15 | FIRST BREAK IN THE HEARING

A 1-hour break was given to the hearing. Afterward, Ekrem İmamoğlu will present his defense.

12.45 | QUESTIONS FROM NECATİ ÖZKAN TO HÜSEYİN GÜN

Ekrem İmamoğlu's campaign director Necati Özkan also directed questions to Hüseyin Gün.

Necati Özkan: “We have a message on June 10, 2019. We are meeting on June 11. Have we had a meeting with you before?”

Gün: “No, we haven't.”

Özkan: “Did I give you any data?”

Gün: “No, you didn't.”

Özkan: “Did I give you any information about the İBB or its affiliates?”

Gün: “No.”

Özkan: “Did I have a request for you to manipulate the elections?”

Gün: “No”

Özkan: “Did I have a request for you to do a social media analysis for me?”

Gün: "I also stated in my statement. Upon the insistence of my spiritual mother, I had a small study as a volunteer for 12 days."

Özkan: "They want to extract 2 cases from here. There is action 13 in the İBB case. Do you have any involvement in İBB Hanem or İstanbul Senin applications?"

Gün: "No, Mr. Özkan, I have had no interest or connection."

Özkan: (İBB Case) "Are you an executive in a criminal organization?"

Gün: "I will use my right to remain silent."

12.38 | HÜSEYİN GÜN'S DEFENSE CONCLUDED

Hüseyin Gün completed his defense, which lasted over an hour. Then his cross-examination began.

The Court President asked about the allegation in the indictment that Gün sent money to Yanardağ.

He referred to Merdan Yanardağ as “a journalist whom I know to be a Young Turk and whose books I have read.”

Gün continued his words as follows:

“As a TELE 1 viewer, a donation, these donation amounts are also very meager, it wouldn't pay an electricity bill... I didn't understand how making a donation becomes espionage. He is someone I love and respect.”

After Gün's response, there was laughter in the courtroom. The Court President then asked about the allegations in the indictment that he sent guiding messages to Yanardağ.

Gün said, “The Yanardağ I know would never move his pen with guidance or instruction. My goal was to convey my ideas to Mr. Yanardağ. Neither guidance nor a request nor a command is my place. I cannot say something exists when it doesn't. I am not someone who comes from the left wing, but I have infinite respect for everyone who wants to take the Turkish nation one step forward.”

12.20 | GÜN: 'DRUG ADDICT INFORMER...'

Continuing his defense, Gün used the following words:

“These data in the scope of the file; they clearly reveal how baseless the allegation in the indictment is that I committed the crime of political espionage by taking secret data on the Dark Web and forwarding it to my partner in the PyQ company abroad, former intelligence officer Aaron Barr, to have a social media analysis done.

The drug-addicted informer Ümit Deniz Alaçam is unfortunately the biological son of my late spiritual mother Seher Erçili Alaçam. This informer, who is addicted to drugs, gambling, and illegal betting and who was treated in therapy centers many times in the past by his own mother for this reason; the criminal report he made by calling the 112 emergency call center based on fabricated evidence 3 years after his own mother's death is entirely based on a baseless fiction and slander.

Mr. President, again, I say this by begging your pardon; there is a person who has known me for 20-25 years. During this period, one of the distinguished institutions of our state and, in my opinion, the leading one, the counter-espionage unit of our National Intelligence Organization, could not find me, had no idea, and someone called 112 and had the spy caught.”

12.05 | SHORT DIALOGUE BETWEEN İMAMOĞLU AND YANARDAĞ

While Hüseyin Gün was continuing his defense, Ekrem İmamoğlu and Merdan Yanardağ, who were sitting in the defendant's chair right behind him, had a short dialogue.

Ekrem İmamoğlu listened to what Merdan Yanardağ told him with a smile.

On the other hand, İmamoğlu occasionally glances at the notes he brought with him.

11.55 | HÜSEYİN GÜN: 'I HAVE NO CONTACT WITH EITHER İMAMOĞLU OR ÖZKAN OTHER THAN THE LIMITED COMMUNICATION IN 2019'

Hüseyin Gün continued his defense as follows:

"As I stated in detail in my statement dated October 25, 2025, which I gave in my second statement at the İstanbul TEM, I met Mr. Merdan Yanardağ and Mr. Necati Özkan through my spiritual mother Seher Erçili Alaçam. As for Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, I saw him only once in my life for a minute during a courtesy visit we made together to the Saraçhane building and a photo shoot, about a month or a month and a half after he was elected as İBB Mayor, again as a result of the guidance of my spiritual mother Seher Erçili Alaçam. Today we are in the same place for the second time. I only saw him for a minute. Indeed, when looking at the communication records in the file, it is clearly seen that I have no contact with Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu either before or after this date.

Likewise, as confirmed in the communication records in the file, as I stated in my statement, I had no face-to-face meetings with Mr. Necati Özkan other than the social media analysis I had done based on open sources during the limited ten-twelve-day period after the cancellation of the İBB elections by the YSK, and the one presentation and one meeting I had with the İBB regarding the subject in September 2019. But we are all human, after hearing some negative news about Mr. Necati Özkan in March 2025, I just sent a get-well message as a human gesture. Apart from this, for 7 years -which is available in these records- I have had no contact with Mr. Necati Özkan. These concrete determinations within the scope of the file; although the indictment shows the crime date as 2019-2025, they clearly reveal that I have no contact with either Mr. İmamoğlu or Mr. Özkan other than the limited communication that took place in 2019. Technical evidence shows this."

"CHARACTERIZING IT AS POLITICAL ESPIONAGE IS EXTREMELY FAR FROM CREDIBILITY AND TRUTH"

Hüseyin Gün used the following expressions:

"On the other hand, it is fixed when looking at the communication records in the file that I met extremely rarely within the framework of social relations with the journalist Mr. Merdan Yanardağ, whom I see as a legacy of my spiritual mother and whom I respect -because I stay in Turkey very little-. I would like to state again; the only role I undertook in this process is as a result of the intense insistence of my spiritual mother, the late Seher Erçeli Alaçam, whom I call "Mamim" after the cancellation of the İBB elections by the YSK. I can also tell you the reason for that intense insistence; she was a staunch CHP supporter and loved Mr. İmamoğlu very much.

Upon the insistence of my spiritual mother, we had a social media analysis study that had no illegal aspect in the limited period of about 10-12 days with Mr. Özkan, who is Mr. İmamoğlu's election consultant and campaign manager. This was also done voluntarily; that is, there is no fee, Mr. President, I state this importantly. Because my spiritual mother asked me, I had a free social media analysis done by the technical staff of the PyQ company, of which I am a partner abroad, based on open source access on the internet. Everything consists of this. Characterizing a social media analysis based on open source data that everyone can easily reach on the internet as political espionage in the indictment is extremely far from credibility and truth."

11.20 | HÜSEYİN GÜN DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS: “I AM NOT A SPY”

According to Cumhuriyet, Hüseyin Gün made the first defense at the hearing.

Starting his words by saying that he has been detained for 313 days and has been "waiting for today," Gün continued as follows:

“The process against me started with a report made to the 112 Emergency Call Center on March 2, 2025. Upon this report, an arrest warrant was issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism and Organized Crimes Bureau with the miscellaneous work number 2025/5759.

However, I was completely unaware of this process. I was carrying out studies regarding the establishment of an artificial intelligence factory in the United States of America. When I returned to Turkey on June 30, 2025, I was detained at Istanbul Airport. During the detention, my mobile phone and laptop were seized. I handed over all the passwords of my digital materials to the law enforcement officers of my own free will. Because I was sure of myself. I am not a spy.

My detention period was extended three times. After my procedures at the İstanbul TEM Branch Directorate were completed at 06.30 on July 4, 2025, I was referred to the on-duty criminal judgeship of peace with a request for arrest. Then I was arrested by the Istanbul 5th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on charges of 'political or military espionage' within the scope of TCK 328/1. While the investigation was continuing, in the examinations made on digital materials; I was included in the investigation numbered 2025/48620, which was carried out on the allegation of 'managing the İmamoğlu criminal organization' due to a photo of Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu and my late mother Meral Hanım and a few messages.

On the morning of October 24, 2025, I was taken from my cell in Silivri Prison and taken back to İstanbul TEM. My statement, which started on the evening of October 25, lasted until 10.50 the next morning. After the statement I gave in this context, I was released by the prosecutor's office. This file is still being heard at the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court."

“THERE IS NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE IN THE INDICTMENT” DEFENSE

"In the indictment dated February 4, 2026, which is the basis for the trial in your presence today, it is claimed that I obtained information that should remain confidential for the security of the state for the purpose of political or military espionage within the scope of TCK 328/1. All of these allegations are baseless," said Gün, using the following words:

"I have never obtained any information that should remain confidential for the security of the Republic of Turkey for the purpose of espionage. I have not made such an attempt. I have not shared it with anyone either. Indeed, I do not have a single confession in this direction in my second statement. Because I did not commit espionage against my country. Also, I did not slander anyone with espionage. A person who is not a spy does not slander another person with espionage.

At the root of this investigation; there is the past-based grudge and jealousy of the informer Ümit Deniz Alaçak, who is addicted to drugs and illegal betting. It is clear that he is uncomfortable with his own nephew showing me as a role model for himself. All accusations are the product of this personal grudge. When the indictment is examined, it will be seen that there is not a single concrete evidence regarding which information that should remain confidential for the security of the state I obtained, to whom I transferred it, or with which intelligence officer I shared it and in what way.

The meetings I had with foreign statesmen, politicians, bureaucrats, retired soldiers, or intelligence personnel registered on my phone were made the subject of the accusation. However, considering my international business life and past career, these relationships are within the ordinary flow of life.

I am a businessman who has been investing in different parts of the world for many years. I completed my education in England. I graduated from the University of London, Department of Electrical Engineering, with honors. I started my professional life in Geneva in the field of oil trading. Later, I worked as an investment specialist and vice president at Merrill Lynch's London branch. Then I served as senior vice president at Crédit Agricole.

Later, I made investments in the energy, natural resources, and finance sectors with my own capital. I founded the London-based Avicenna Capital company. I also carried out activities in various think tanks due to my interest in understanding how politics, and especially Anglo-Saxon politics, is shaped. For this reason, it is extremely natural for me to be in a relationship with international circles.

Especially considering the diplomatic and political contacts carried out abroad on behalf of the Republic of Turkey after the treacherous coup attempt of July 15, there is no aspect of my having met with the people mentioned in the indictment that is contrary to the ordinary flow of life."

10.59 | CAPACITY DISPUTE IN THE COURTROOM

There is a "space" crisis in Courtroom No. 4, where the case is being heard.

Due to insufficient capacity, there is great density at the entrances and inside the hall. Many lawyers and journalists cannot enter the hall even though the defenses have started.

10.44 | DEFENSE PLAN ANNOUNCED IN COURT

The Court President announced the order of defense verbally. Hüseyin Gün will speak first, then Ekrem İmamoğlu will be given the floor.

Then Merdan Yanardağ will speak, and finally, Necati Özkan will present his defense.

10.30 | HARSH MESSAGE FROM YANARDAĞ IN THE COURTROOM

Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, Merdan Yanardağ, and Hüseyin Gün arrived at the courtroom.

Yanardağ addressed the audience, saying, “There is a pro-American government. Collaborators of imperialism are accusing patriots of espionage.”

10.05 | CROWD AT HALL ENTRANCES BEFORE THE HEARING

There is density at the entrances to the hall before the espionage case. Mahmut Tanal, emphasizing the principle of publicity, said that everyone should enter the hall.

News Source: 12punto