Turkey: Imamoglu’s trial for “political espionage” started today

The archetypal proceeding successful the proceedings connected “political espionage” began today, with the main defendants being the removed Constantinople Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, his advisor Nezati Ozkan, and writer Merdan Yanardag.

The opening league is taking spot astatine the Marmara Prison analyzable successful Silivri, earlier the 25th Istanbul Criminal Court. The defendants are expected to contiguous their archetypal statements during the proceedings.

Charges and sentencing requests

According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the alleged offences span the play from 2019 to 2025. Prosecutors are seeking situation sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years for Imamoglu, Ozkan, Yanardag, and businessman Huseyin Gun, who is reportedly cooperating with authorities. The indictment besides requests a governmental prohibition for Imamoglu.

The 160-page indictment is based connected integer records, communications, and grounds attributed to businessman Huseyin Gun. Prosecutors allege that idiosyncratic information of citizens was accessed done a database linked to the Istanbul Municipality.

It is further claimed that Gun maintained contacts with overseas quality officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel, and that delicate information was allegedly transferred to overseas quality services. The indictment besides argues that this accusation was utilized for governmental investigation aimed astatine influencing the 2019 municipal elections successful favour of Imamoglu.

Denials from the defendants

All defendants cull the allegations.

Imamoglu, successful earlier testimony, stated that helium does not cognize Huseyin Gun and described their lone photograph unneurotic arsenic a regular congratulatory image. He besides argued that the interaction betwixt Gun and Ozkan was constricted to astir 15 days and could not person influenced an electoral process.

Ozkan likewise denied immoderate transportation to Gun, stating that “any ineligible adept reviewing this connection unsocial would reason that determination is nary nexus betwixt us.”

Journalist Merdan Yanardag described the indictment arsenic being “based connected interpretations and assumptions,” arguing that it lacks factual evidence.

Legal framework

The lawsuit is being pursued nether Article 328 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes obtaining authorities secrets related to nationalist information oregon governmental interests for espionage purposes.

Separately, Imamoglu is besides expected to be different proceeding successful a antithetic lawsuit concerning the Istanbul Municipality, scheduled for the aforesaid day.