Turkish Opposition Leader İmamoğlu Faces Espionage Probe as Journalist Yanardağ Detained

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed presidential candidate and Istanbul’s former mayor, is now facing an additional investigation on charges of espionage. TELE 1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ was detained on Friday morning as part of the same case, marking a new escalation in Turkey’s political and media crackdown. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the investigation is being expanded in coordination with the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the police.

New Espionage Case Against Imprisoned Candidate

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in detention since March 23, is already on trial for allegedly running a “criminal organization for profit.”
He now faces a fresh investigation under espionage charges, with prosecutors accusing him of leaking information to foreign actors and coordinating covert digital operations during his political campaigns.

The prosecutor’s office stated that İmamoğlu will be formally questioned in connection with this new case in the coming days.

Police Raid on TELE 1, Yanardağ Detained

The same investigation also led to the detention of Merdan Yanardağ, editor-in-chief of opposition broadcaster TELE 1.
Anti-terror police raided the network’s Istanbul headquarters early Friday morning, seizing digital equipment and documents.

According to prosecutors, Yanardağ allegedly maintained “extensive communications with a suspect involved in espionage activities linked to İmamoğlu’s organization.”
Authorities said searches were carried out at both his residence and workplace, and that he is currently being questioned at Istanbul police headquarters.

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Prosecutor’s Office Issues Detailed Statement

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office published a statement titled “Press Note – Operation 1,” outlining the scope of the investigation led by the Terror Crimes Bureau.

Officials said the case stems from evidence found in the digital materials of businessman Hüseyin Gün, who was arrested on July 4, 2025, on espionage charges.

Prosecutors claim Gün was engaged in “intelligence gathering on behalf of foreign states”, communicating through encrypted phones and possessing classified photographs of military equipment and Israeli passports belonging to individuals involved in “political or military activities.”

FETÖ and PKK Links Alleged

The statement further alleged that Gün had connections with individuals previously prosecuted for membership in the FETÖ and PKK/KCK organizations, as well as “frequent communications with foreign consular officials.”

A financial crimes report (MASAK) cited in the statement said Gün conducted 85 million Turkish lira worth of transactions despite having no registered business activity, withdrawing the funds in cash without any documented commercial purpose.

Claims of “Digital Espionage for İmamoğlu Campaign”

The most politically sensitive part of the indictment accuses Gün of coordinating digital intelligence operations during İmamoğlu’s presidential and local election campaigns.

Authorities allege that Gün communicated with campaign strategist Necati Özkan through the encrypted messaging app Wickr.
In those conversations, prosecutors claim, the two discussed mobilizing 70,000 volunteers, conducting voter data analysis, and sharing sensitive information with foreign intelligence services.

The indictment also claims that the operation’s broader aim was to “create a financial and information network” to support İmamoğlu’s presidential ambitions — activity prosecutors classify as espionage.

Yanardağ Accused of Election Manipulation

The prosecutor’s office also accused journalist Merdan Yanardağ of acting as a media coordinator within this alleged network.

According to the statement, Yanardağ “organized the media component of the election process” in coordination with Gün and allegedly worked with foreign intelligence entities to manipulate the outcome of the 2019 local elections.

Authorities claim Yanardağ “received material benefits” from Gün in exchange for supporting these activities — allegations both TELE 1 and Yanardağ’s legal team have strongly denied in the past.

MIT and Police Expanding Investigation

The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation is being conducted “in full cooperation” with Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul Police Department.

Both İmamoğlu and his former campaign manager Necati Özkan, who are currently serving pre-trial detention, will be brought from prison to testify regarding the espionage accusations.

Officials indicated that additional detentions could follow as the inquiry widens.

Political and Media Reactions

The new investigation has sparked an outcry across Turkey’s opposition and civil society.
CHP officials described the espionage charges as “a fabricated political operation” aimed at permanently disqualifying İmamoğlu from the 2026 presidential race.

Government-aligned media, however, claimed the probe is based on “serious evidence of coordination with foreign actors.”

International watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders, condemned the arrest of Yanardağ, calling it “another blow to press freedom” in Turkey.

Analysts Warn of Wider Political Consequences

Political analysts say the timing and scope of the new case suggest a deepening confrontation between the ruling bloc and the opposition ahead of potential early elections.

According to several economists, the case could also erode investor confidence at a time when Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has been trying to reassure markets about Turkey’s economic stability.

“If these charges lead to further political arrests, foreign investors will read it as the end of judicial independence,” said one senior analyst at a European investment bank. “That’s when capital flight becomes inevitable.”

Background: A Pattern of Escalating Legal Pressure

The latest espionage probe adds to a growing list of legal cases targeting Turkey’s opposition figures.
İmamoğlu, one of the country’s most popular politicians, was already sentenced in 2023 for “insulting public officials,” a conviction that many saw as politically motivated.

Since his imprisonment in March 2025, multiple additional investigations have been launched against him and his associates, including allegations of corruption, organized crime, and now espionage.

Observers say the new case could be the most consequential yet, potentially redefining the boundaries of political dissent in Turkey.

A High-Stakes Moment for Turkish Democracy

Whether the courts pursue the espionage accusations aggressively or quietly scale them back will signal how far Turkey’s judiciary remains willing to go in politically sensitive cases.

A harsh prosecution could further damage Turkey’s international image and strain relations with Western allies, while a softer approach could indicate some degree of restraint ahead of renewed EU and U.S. scrutiny of Turkey’s rule of law record.

Either way, the İmamoğlu case has become a defining test for both Turkey’s democracy and its economy.