Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Charged with 142 Offenses, Faces Over 2,000 Years in Prison

Indictment Filed Against Istanbul Mayor

Turkish prosecutors have formally charged Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu with 142 offenses, according to an indictment filed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The extensive, nearly 4,000-page indictment names İmamoğlu as the chief suspect among 402 individuals, accusing him of crimes that could result in a prison sentence exceeding 2,000 years, with some reports indicating a potential maximum of up to 2,430 years.

The charges against the prominent opposition figure include a wide array of alleged illicit activities:

• Running a criminal organization
• Bribery
• Money laundering
• Embezzlement
• Extortion
• Tender rigging
• Fraud against public institutions

The indictment also includes allegations of forging official documents, concealing and disseminating official documents, destroying criminal evidence, damaging public property, spreading misleading information, and violations related to personal data. Prosecutors claim the alleged criminal network caused a total public loss estimated at 160 billion Turkish liras ($3.8 billion) and an additional $24 million in foreign currency.

Political Context and Opposition Claims

Ekrem İmamoğlu, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is widely regarded as a significant political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. His arrest on March 19, 2025, and subsequent remand into custody on March 23, 2025, triggered widespread protests across Turkey.

The CHP has vehemently rejected the charges, characterizing the case as 'entirely political' and a 'judicial coup' aimed at eliminating a key opposition figure from the political arena. Opposition leader Özgür Özel stated that the case's purpose is 'to stop the Republican People's party (CHP), which came first in the last local elections, and to block its presidential candidate.'

Previous Legal Challenges and Implications

This is not the first time İmamoğlu has faced legal scrutiny. In 2022, he was sentenced to over two years in prison and banned from politics for 'insulting public officials' following the annulment of the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election results, a conviction he has appealed. Additionally, allegations of espionage and faking his university degree have surfaced, with Istanbul University reportedly annulling his degree the day before his March arrest, a move that could jeopardize his eligibility for presidential office under Turkish law.

The indictment describes İmamoğlu as allegedly heading a sprawling crime network, exerting influence 'like an octopus,' a phrase often used by President Erdoğan. A trial date for the 142 offenses is expected to be set once the court formally accepts the indictment. Turkish legal proceedings, which do not involve juries, can often extend over several years.