Espionage Trial of Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu Begins Amidst Political Tensions

• •Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is on trial for political espionage, facing severe penalties.
• •Prosecutors seek 15-20 years in prison for İmamoğlu and co-defendants, including Merdan Yanardağ.
• •The case highlights ongoing political repression and legal actions against dissent in Turkey.

On May 11, 2026, the trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu commenced, focusing on allegations of political espionage. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of 15 to 20 years for İmamoğlu and several co-defendants, including journalist Merdan Yanardağ. İmamoğlu has been imprisoned since March 2025 on unrelated graft charges. The case involves accusations of transferring sensitive municipal data to foreign intelligence services, with much of the indictment based on digital evidence. Co-defendant Hüseyin Gün claimed the espionage allegations are baseless and defended his actions as legitimate. All defendants have denied the charges, arguing there is no concrete evidence against them. The trial is part of a broader crackdown on political dissent in Turkey, affecting multiple journalists and political figures.