24.10.2025 09:45
In the corruption investigation, a espionage investigation has been initiated against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ, who were arrested. It has been alleged that the suspects had connections with Hüseyin Gün, who was arrested for espionage, and that they shared confidential voter information with foreign intelligence services during the 2019 local elections. Additionally, images of military ammunition were seized from Gün.
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Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ, who were arrested in a corruption investigation, are now facing a espionage investigation. It has been alleged that the suspects had connections with Hüseyin Gün, who was arrested for espionage, and that they shared secret voter information with foreign intelligence services during the 2019 local elections. Additionally, military ammunition images, foreign country passports, and secret correspondence were seized from Gün.
MERDAN YANARDAĞ DETAINED
Former İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position and arrested as part of the corruption investigation, is being investigated for "espionage" along with his campaign director Necati Özkan and journalist Merdan Yanardağ. Merdan Yanardağ has been detained.
MILITARY AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS PHOTOS FOUND FROM HÜSEYİN GÜN
As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, digital materials belonging to suspect Hüseyin Gün, who was arrested for espionage on July 4, 2025, and who was found to have engaged in espionage activities on behalf of foreign countries, communicated through encrypted phones to conduct his meetings in secrecy, and financed internal conflicts occurring in different countries, were examined. It was learned that photos of military ammunition and weapons, which civilians or companies could not obtain, as well as passport photos of Israeli citizens who were found to be active in military or political fields in Israel, were discovered.
TRACES OF FETÖ AND KCK
It was also learned that there were communication links between suspects who were subject to legal action under the FETÖ/PDY Armed Terrorist Organization and suspects who were subject to legal action under the PKK/KCK Armed Terrorist Organization via GSM lines, and that numerous communication records with consular officials from different countries were reached. As a result of the MASAK investigation regarding Hüseyin Gün; despite not having any commercial enterprise, it was determined that he made large amounts of domestic and international money transfers, and that 85 million Turkish Liras were withdrawn from his accounts, with no records of any purchases or sales related to the use of this money.
"CONTACT WITH FETÖ'S IMAM IN ENGLAND"
As a result of the examination of handwritten notebooks and documents belonging to Gün; it was found that among the documents believed to belong to the suspect, there were notes regarding coup attempts and internal turmoil events occurring in different countries, records of the people and institutions he met across the country, and contents indicating that he provided information about our country to intelligence agents or political figures operating on behalf of a foreign country. Additionally, it was determined that he had face-to-face meetings with Mustafa Özcan, who is considered the 'imam of England' in the upper management of the FETÖ/PDY Armed Terrorist Organization, and that there were notes indicating he received suggestions from this person. Furthermore, findings were identified that he transferred information he collected about the Middle East and African countries, as well as Turkey, to foreign officials conducting intelligence activities. It was determined that Hüseyin Gün was operating in Turkey and different countries in line with the interests of other countries by prominently displaying his commercial identity.
As a result of examining Gün's connections; it was found that he had contact with many foreign intelligence officers, and that he communicated with a foreign intelligence officer via a cryptographic messaging program called 'Wickr', which is similar to ByLock Talk and Chat used by FETÖ members, and has high-level confidentiality, where it was determined that the foreign intelligence officer sent a secretly taken photo of a group that included two former ministers who had served in Turkey to the suspect.
Additionally, it was determined that in the correspondence Gün had with Necati Özkan, one of the 'Ekrem İmamoğlu organized crime group' leaders, through the same messaging program, statements were made regarding 'digital intelligence gathering, issues to be considered in the works done for İmamoğlu, the urgent activation of 70,000 volunteers, that Murat Ongun's mobile phone was infected with remote access spyware, and that it was very important for Murat not to take his phone to sensitive campaign meetings with Ekrem Bey.' It was evaluated that these discussions revealed that Hüseyin Gün was hierarchically above Necati Özkan and was acting as a manager in the 'criminal organization.'
"COOPERATION IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN"
The main purpose of the 'Ekrem İmamoğlu criminal organization' was to obtain financial benefits to create a fund for Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy, and it was learned that Hüseyin Gün, one of the leaders of the criminal organization, cooperated with Necati Özkan in this regard during the 2019 local election campaign, particularly by leaking secret information about voters, conducting activities in this direction, analyzing electoral districts to create voter profiles, and determining strategies, and that information about voters was shared with foreign intelligence services during this process, and these actions were evaluated as espionage activities. It was also determined that Gün had connections with İmamoğlu and held joint meetings.
CONTACT BETWEEN YANARDAĞ AND GÜN DETECTED
Within the scope of the investigation, it was found that Merdan Yanardağ also had numerous contacts and correspondence with Hüseyin Gün regarding espionage activities, which was confirmed by witness statements, indicating that Yanardağ organized the press aspect of the election process by obtaining benefits from Gün, and that he operated in cooperation with foreign intelligence services to manipulate the elections during the 2019 local elections, thus committing the crime of espionage.
İMAMOĞLU WILL GIVE A STATEMENT
Additionally, a request was made for Ekrem İmamoğlu and Necati Özkan to be prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for questioning regarding espionage crimes, to be obtained from the penal institutions where they are held. Within the scope of the investigation, Merdan Yanardağ was detained today for the crime of 'espionage.' Searches were conducted at his home and workplace.
It was learned that Hüseyin Gün, who is detained for the crime of 'espionage,' will be delivered to the Istanbul Police Department by being obtained from the penal institution with the decision of the Peace Criminal Court for questioning regarding the crime of 'being a leader of a criminal organization' based on new evidence obtained.
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