The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has requested sentences of 15 to 20 years for four suspects, including former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as part of an investigation into the criminal offense of “political espionage.”
According to the indictment, the alleged crimes occurred between 2019 and 2025 and involve not only İmamoğlu, who was removed from office following his arrest, but also Hüseyin Gün, Nejati Özkan, and Merdan Yandadaş.
The case is linked to a broader investigation against İmamoğlu for “establishing a criminal organization for financial gain,” in which political espionage charges were also brought. The indictment has been submitted to the 25th Criminal Court of Istanbul for review.
The indictment, submitted by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, spans 160 pages and describes an alleged international digital network that allegedly exploited Istanbul Municipality’s database for political espionage activities and manipulation of electoral processes.
Former Mayor İmamoğlu has faced this new “political espionage” charge since the fall of 2025. According to the prosecution, his electoral team is connected to a businessman who allegedly collaborated with British intelligence services to collect and distribute voters’ personal data and election information via municipal applications, aiming to secure international support for İmamoğlu’s presidential candidacy.
İmamoğlu, who has been in prison since March 2025 on charges related to “corruption” and “insulting the prosecutor,” denies all accusations, describing them as politically motivated.
The trial for 142 charges, including espionage, is scheduled for March 9, 2026, with prosecutors seeking maximum penalties.
