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EKREM Imamoglu denies that he tried to influence the elimination of Turkiye on the observations made by officials.
Istanbul mayor Emamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and a potential competitor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court to deny the charges that he tried to influence the judiciary.
Imamoglu, 53, appeared in the Caglayan Court in Istanbul on Friday to face the threat of an official, insult, targeting and trying to influence the trial.
I did not participate in any measures targeting any individual. It is impossible for me to act this way. “I do not accept the charges against me,” Imamoglu told the prosecutors.
IMamoglu’s criticism of its legal issues against the opposition municipalities, including the Republican People’s Party (CHP). His testimony related to the observations he made about the chief prosecutor and the court expert.
The case against him is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by opposition politicians in Turki, where rights groups said that judicial independence eroded during Erdogan’s rule for two decades.
IMamoglu has already convicted of insulting the members of the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkiye and faces a political embargo if its conviction is supported in 2022 at the appeal. He is also in trial for his involvement in falsifying alleged bids in a tender dating back to 2015.
Thousands of supporters gathered outside the court on Friday to protest the legal measures against Imamoglu.
Tensions escalated when the riot police prevented the CHP bus from approaching the court. This step led to clashes between the demonstrators and the police, who responded with tear gas. It was not clear if any arrests were made.
Imamoglu later addressed the crowds from the top of the bus elsewhere.
“The issue of today is … the issue of searching for rights and justice,” the mayor said. Unfortunately, today’s case stems from a plot prepared against Istanbul. “
The mayor of Ankara, Mansour Yafas, who was there to support the Imamoglu, also accused the government of turning a Turkish “open prison.”
The Turkish authorities regularly target journalists, local lawyers and political representatives, especially since the 2016 failed coup against the Erdogan government.
“The government is trying to limit the space of opponents, including journalists, and intimidating them on an unfair charge,” Viaety Coker, 71, who was in the crowd outside the court, told the news agency. He held a banner reading: “We will fight together.”
“IMamoglu mayor and its strong position will help us to unite. We will not surrender, but we will intensify the battle against injustice.”
IMamoglu was elected for the first time to lead Istanbul in March 2019. Its victory was a blow to the Erdogan Justice and Development Party, which was controlling Istanbul along with a quarter of a century.
AK pushed a nullification of municipal elections in the city of 16 million people, claiming violations. The challenge has repeated the elections a few months later, which IMamoglu also won.
Imamoglu mayor was re -elected the largest city in Turkiye last year.
The Turkish authorities have removed a number of mayors elected from the People’s Party, Communications, and the pro -men parties in recent years, saying that they are linked to investigations related to “terrorism”.
Emma Senkler Web, Turkish director of Human Rights Watch, said on Friday that the practice of removal of mayors and the appointment of government secretaries undermines democracy.
“This is a major attack on the rights of voters in electing their chosen representatives and violating the right to free and fair elections,” Senkler Web told Reuters.
“While the government talks about resolving the Kurdish conflict, it is vibrant to see these campaign measures continues against the democratically elected officials. This practice fly in the face of any positive solution to the conflict.”
