Turkey: Prosecutors File New Espionage Charges Against Istanbul’s Politically Imprisoned Mayor

Source: US News & World Report

“Prosecutors filed new espionage charges against Istanbul’s jailed mayor on Monday, intensifying the judicial pressure on the opposition politician seen as a top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The new charges against Ekrem Imamoglu stem from an investigation launched last week into alleged links between his political campaign and a businessman arrested in July for reportedly carrying out intelligence activities on behalf of foreign governments. Imamoglu’s former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag were also charged. … Imamoglu rejected the accusations as ‘nonsense’ in a statement posted on social media.” (10/27/25)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-10-27/turkish-prosecutors-file-new-espionage-charges-against-istanbuls-jailed-mayor