Ekrem İmamoğlu receives 20-month prison sentence

ANKARA, July 16 (YPA) – Ousted Istanbul Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 months in prison by the Istanbul’s Silivri Court for insulting the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor and threatening the city’s chief prosecutor.

During the trial at the prison complex, İmamoğlu denied all charges against him, claiming that he was being politically targeted, because of his intention to run against Erdoğan in the 2028 presidential elections.

At the start of the trial, the prosecutor had demanded a sentence of up to seven years and four months for İmamoğlu, in addition to a ban on political activity.

At the same time, the court acquitted İmamoğlu of a separate charge of targeting a prosecutor.
İmamoğlu has been in prison since March awaiting trial on a series of corruption charges.

The past few months have been witnessed a series of protests by opposition supporters who viewed İmamoğlu as a real rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The series of charges he faced could prevent him from running in the upcoming presidential elections.

İmamoğlu is considered the most prominent opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was re-elected mayor of Istanbul in March 2024, following his first victory in 2019.

AA