Third Hearing in Espionage Trial of İmamoğlu and Associates

• •Ekrem İmamoğlu and others are on trial for alleged political espionage.
• •The court has decided to keep all defendants in custody pending further developments.
• •İmamoğlu criticized the legal proceedings, claiming they are politically motivated.

The third hearing in the espionage trial involving detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, journalist Merdan Yanardağ, and others commenced today in Silivri. All defendants are accused of political espionage, and the court has ruled that they will remain in custody. The expected response from the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has not yet been received, which is critical for the case. İmamoğlu criticized the ongoing legal proceedings against him, claiming he has faced 20 lawsuits in two years. He described the case as a 'judicial attack' and expressed frustration over the lack of clarity in the legal process. The trial has drawn significant public attention, with supporters urging action rather than waiting for his release. The case highlights ongoing tensions in Turkish politics and the use of legal mechanisms against political opponents.