CHP blasts indictment against Istanbul mayor Imamoglu, calls it “judicial interference ahead of elections”

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) accused the government of using the judiciary to eliminate Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the political scene, after prosecutors issued a 3,700-page indictment seeking up to 2,352 years in prison for alleged corruption and requesting legal steps that could lead to shutting down the CHP altogether. Party leader Özgür Özel called the move a “coup against democratic politics,” warning that the judiciary is being weaponised to predetermine the outcome of future elections.

Indictment seeks record prison sentence and moves toward possible party closure

Prosecutors on Tuesday revealed a sweeping indictment alleging that Imamoglu and senior Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) officials ran a criminal organization, laundered money and received illegal funds.

Key points from the indictment:

• Imamoglu faces multiple counts of bribery, money laundering and fraud.

• Prosecutors request up to 2,352 years in jail.

• 402 individuals are listed as suspects, including senior aides and former advisors.

• The prosecution alleges the group used IBB tenders and projects as a funding network.

The indictment also includes an unprecedented additional step: prosecutors informed Turkey’s Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) that the CHP — the country’s main opposition party and the founding party of the republic — should face legal assessment regarding a potential closure case under Article 69 of the Constitution.

If accepted, the process could legally shut down the party or ban individuals from politics.

Özgür Özel: “This is not a legal case, this is a political operation”

CHP leader Özgür Özel responded immediately after the indictment was made public, publishing a strongly worded statement on X (Twitter):

“Today’s developments are the clearest proof of judicial interference in democratic politics and in future election outcomes.”

Özel said the case was designed to:

• Stop the party that won the 2024 local elections, and

• Block Imamoglu from running in the 2028 presidential election.

He continued:

“This is not an indictment. It is a memorandum against politics. The aim is to stop Turkey’s main opposition and eliminate our presidential candidate through judicial engineering.”

Özel called the ongoing process a “civilian coup carried out with judges’ robes instead of tanks”, referencing Turkey’s history of military coups.

CHP headquarters targeted in indictment: possible seizure of party property

One of the most striking elements in the indictment concerns the CHP’s Istanbul headquarters in Sarıyer.

Prosecutors allege the building:

• Was acquired using “illicit proceeds” linked to the alleged criminal network, and

• Should be seized by the state under Turkey’s penal code.

In the indictment, the building is explicitly listed under “assets subject to confiscation.”

If approved by the court, the building could be transferred to the Treasury — a step unprecedented in modern Turkish political history.

Mansur Yavaş: “Let the hearings be broadcast live”

Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş also reacted, accusing prosecutors of criminalizing routine municipal activities:

“I have seen many case files, but never one where ordinary municipal actions are treated as criminal activity. Let the hearings be broadcast live so people can judge for themselves.”

Yavaş added:

“Justice should not be an instrument of political competition.”

Indictment uses subjective language and unverified statements, records show

Legal experts and journalists who reviewed parts of the 3,700-page document say the indictment contains:

• Witness testimonies based on hearsay

• Frequent expressions such as “I think,” “I heard,” “as far as I know,” “might be,” and “possibly”

• Statements without supporting documentation

An internal breakdown of subjective language appearing in the indictment:

CHP officials argue that such language demonstrates lack of concrete evidence and indicates political motivation.

Convention (Congress) participation treated as “criminal activity”

Another controversial section concerns the CHP’s 2023 party congress.

The indictment accuses Imamoglu and senior figures who supported Özgür Özel’s leadership bid of “taking over the party”, framing the congress results as a coordinated “organizational activity.”

Participation in the congress — including standing on the stage — is listed as evidence of criminal behavior.

Legal analysts say this marks the first time in Turkey that a political party’s internal democratic process has been described as a criminal act.

Political implications: Eliminating 2028 rivals

Imamoglu remains among Turkey’s most popular politicians and is widely seen as the only opposition figure with enough cross-party support to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2028.

Analysts note:

• The timing of the indictment,

• The record sentence request,

• And the simultaneous opening toward a CHP closure case

indicate a coordinated strategy to shape the political landscape before the presidential race begins.

CHP: “Atatürk’s party belongs to the people — no one can shut it down”

Özel ended his statement with a reference to past attempts to dissolve the CHP:

“The last person who tried to shut down Atatürk’s party was Kenan Evren after the 1980 coup. We reopened it. History remembers how coups end.”

He vowed to continue resisting the judicial process:

“We have paid a price before, we will pay again. But we will never stop trusting the will of the people.”

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