PROFILE: Turkish court holds first hearing in corruption case targeting jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu

Record ID: 2363520

  • Title: PROFILE: Turkish court holds first hearing in corruption case targeting jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu
  • Date: 19th March 2025
  • Summary: NICOSIA, CYPRUS (MARCH 13, 2026) (REUTERS) EXTERNAL VIEW OF THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY IN NICOSIA, CYPRUS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CYPRUS ENERGY MINISTER, MICHAEL DAMIANOS, SAYING:  “The crisis in the Middle East shows that we should exploit our reserves, especially those that are outside of the Gulf region, we cannot be dependent on specific areas. So having, you know, Eastern M
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Ekrem Imamoglu President Tayyip Erdogan detained main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) main rival mayor of istanbul
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Europe,Middle East,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002995119032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Turkish court on Monday (March 9) began the first hearing in the case against jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other opposition figures on corruption charges.
    Imamoglu, 55, is the chief suspect among more than 400 defendants linked to the Istanbul municipality accused of corruption and bribery, the centrepiece of a judicial crackdown on the CHP that is overshadowing politics ahead of elections that are expected to be held next year.
    He and his main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deny the charges, which carry prison sentences adding up to hundreds of years.
    The sweeping corruption case could extinguish the ambition of Tayyip Erdogan's main rival to become president at Turkey's next election.
    Erdogan, 72, has led Turkey as prime minister or president since 2003. Presidential and parliamentary elections are not scheduled until 2028 but if he wishes to seek a third term as president he is obliged to hold the vote early, unless the constitutional term limits are changed.
    (Production: Ali Kucukgocmen)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register