Turkey jails mayor of capital city as unrest continues

A Turkish court on Sunday Detained mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s main competitor, to the allegations of corruption that have been inflaming the country’s largest protests for more than a decade.

The decision to send Imamoglu to prison European leader And tens of thousands of demonstrators criticized the actions against him as politicized and undemocratic.

When the developments in the courtroom took place, there were signs that the mayor’s problems occurred against Erdogan’s government that has operated Turkey for 22 years.

Thousands of members of the People’s Party (CHP) and non -members of the Republicans were nationwide in polling stations to choose Imamoglu in a future presidential vote.

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The non -members are closely observed as an indicator of how much the widespread imamoglu enjoys beyond the party representatives.

Imamoglu denied the indictment with which he is exposed to “unimaginable accusations and defamation”, and demanded nationwide protests on Sunday. “We will pull this coup together, this dark spot on our democracy,” he said.

Film material showed what broadcasting said that he was brought to the Silivri prison in a police convoy.

Imamoglu was removed from service together with two other mayors of the district, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry.

The government denies that the investigation is politically motivated and says that courts are independent.

A nationwide ban on road meetings was on Saturday for four more days, but protests and extended Scharmützel with the police Continuation of the night in big cities.

Thousands crowded overnight in front of the courthouse and early Sunday and were waiting for the decisions about Imamoglu.

The court said Imamoglu (54) and at least 20 others were detained as part of a corruption examination that opened against him last week.

It was said that he had been arrested because he “built and managed a criminal organization, accepted bribes, embezzlement, illegal recording of personal data and the inlet of public tenders in connection with a financial investigation”.

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The prison limits a monthly legal approach to opposition figures and the eliminating of other elected civil servants from the office, which tried to affect critics as a government.

Six of the 27 mayors of the CHP have now been arrested – one year after the opposition parties of Erdogan’s AK party in the municipal elections were the worst election injury.

The CHP opened party demand stations for non -members on Sunday in order to give “solidarity voices” for Imamoglu, which was the only name for the ballot for the president’s candidate.

The CH-P chairman Ozgur Ozel predicted millions of votes from non-members and said that Imamoglu was “on the way to prison, but also on the presidency”.

No general elections are planned by 2028.

But if Erdogan, 71, who has led Turkey Parliament has had to support a previous choice for 22 years because the president reached its limit up to this date. Imamoglu leads Erdogan in some opinion polls.

Imamoglu is also exposed to suspicion of terrorism, but at the same time the court did not officially arrest him.

A future decision that imprisoned him until the court proceedings for terrorism could enable the government to appoint a trustee to head Istanbul. A conviction could prevent him from running as president.

The CHP said he would appeal against the judgment and choose someone to work as a reigning mayor.

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Shortly after the court ruling, the mayor swore to defeat Erdogan and said that those who carried out the investigation would be held accountable.

“Imamoglu has become Erdogan’s … nightmare,” said Mehmet Karatas, an opposition supporter, in front of the courthouse. “We will make Ekrem Imamoglu president.”

The imprisonment of Imamoglu used the markets, with the Turkish lira, stocks and bonds have had a strong decline since Wednesday. Analysts expect more sales pressure after prison.

The governor of the Turkish Central Bank, Fatih Karahan, met board members of the Turkey Banks Association (TBB) on Sunday.

The central bank will use all instruments within market rules effectively and determined to maintain stability, Karahan told bankers, said TBB.

Civil disobedience has been dramatically restricted in Turkey since the nationwide Gesi Park against Erdogan’s government in 2013 Violent approach.

But on Saturday evening, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul country building and the main course. Hundreds of tear gas and pepper spray used by the police to dispel demonstrators when the amount of cracks and other objects hurled.

Although most demonstrations were peaceful, the demonstrators also collided with the police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third night in a row, with the police cannon shooting the police.

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The authorities arrested more than 300 people during the protests.

Additional reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever, Mert Ozkan and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; Writing by Jonathan Spicer; Processing by Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, David Goodman, Alison Williams and Giles Elgood