Ekrem Imamoglu

Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, was ejected from a corruption trial court for a second time, with his lawyer calling the decision arbitrary. The trial involves 414 co-defendants and 142 charges against Imamoglu, who denies leading a criminal network. The incident occurred amid a NATO summit and accusations of a politically motivated 'sham' trial.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted NATO leaders in Ankara while Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, representing the Republican People’s Party, defended himself in court against corruption charges. Imamoglu faces 142 charges, including leading a criminal organization, and the court has limited his defense time, with potential prison sentences exceeding 2,000 years if convicted.

A Turkish court ordered comedian Deniz Goktas jailed pending trial on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and religious values after his stand-up routine labeled Erdogan a 'dictator.' The routine, which had 9.5 million views on YouTube, led to complaints from viewers, prompting an investigation. The government maintains that courts are impartial.

The Turkish government has arrested 37 suspects, including mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), in operations targeting opposition-run municipalities. The European Parliament criticized Turkey’s rule of law, and the CHP accused authorities of politically motivated actions following its 2024 local election victory.

Hundreds of Turkish riot police used tear gas to remove an ousted opposition leader from the CHP headquarters in Ankara. The leader was dismissed via a court order, part of a year-long legal crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the opposition party following the 2025 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Emerging-market bond sales are rising as investors return to risk, but Turkish markets declined after the detention of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s prominent rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, raising concerns about political instability disrupting economic reforms.