Imamoglu, Rival To Turkey's Erdogan, Detained In Istanbul

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been detained by Turkish authorities days before he was expected to be nominated as the opposition candidate running in the 2028 presidential election, a move the European Union called "deeply concerning."

Imamoglu, who is widely seen as a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained at his home early on March 19. His party said the move showed how strong a candidate he would be if he were to run against Erdogan.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency says the Istanbul mayor is among nearly 100 people, including businessmen and journalists, whose arrest warrants have been issued. The charges run the gamut from leading a criminal organization and extortion to bribery and illegally accessing personal data.

Prosecutors specifically accused Imamoglu of being "the leader of a criminal organization" who allegedly extorted businessmen and laundered money.

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), slammed Imamoglu's detention as an "attempted coup against our next president."

Several European countries voiced concern over the developments in Istanbul, saying they feared the consequences on democracy over the move.

“The arrest of the mayor is deeply concerning,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, told reporters in Brussels.

“Turkey must uphold the democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials.”

Erdogan, the nation's premier leader since 2003, has been accused of rolling back democracy, jailing opponents, independently launching foreign interventions, and has crossed swords with EU member states, and deepened ties with Putin.

"Erdogan in Turkey is using all the tactics employed by authoritarians to maintain his power. For example, before elections, he eliminates opposition leaders or strong potential rivals by imprisoning them or removing them in some way. These are well-known tactics, in fact," Ilhan Uzgel, a CHP deputy chairman, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service.

The CHP is scheduled to hold its presidential candidate selection on March 23, and Imamoglu is the only person running.

Imamoglu posted a video on social media early on March 19 vowing to "continue fighting against" Erdogan.

"Those who are trying to usurp the will of our nation have involved my dear police officers," he said, appearing to suggest he was about to be placed in custody.

"We are facing great tyranny. But I want you to know that I will not give up," he added.

Netblocks, which monitors the connectivity of Web services, said Turkey had restricted access to multiple social media platforms following Imamoglu's detention. The blocked platforms include X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

It has been a difficult week for Imamoglu. On March 17, his alma mater Istanbul University invalidated his diploma, alleging irregularities when he transferred from a university in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus in 1990.

A university degree is a prerequisite for running in elections in Turkey, which is why Imamoglu's supporters argue the decision to nullify his diploma is politically motivated. The Istanbul mayor himself said the move was illegal, charging the university did not have the authority for the annulment.

"This is not about me. This is about our future. No matter the challenges we face, we will not waver. We will not allow democracy to be undermined. We will not allow the will of the people to be overruled," he wrote on X after the annulment of his diploma.

Imamoglu secured a second term as Istanbul's mayor last year, marking a significant victory for his CHP party in local elections. The party also won key cities like Ankara, dealing a historic blow to Erdogan's Justice and Development Party.

This marked the first time since Erdogan's rise to power 22 years ago that his party lost nationwide elections.

The defeat was particularly personal for Erdogan, who began his political career as Istanbul's mayor.