26.10.2025 22:31
As part of the "Espionage" investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Merdan Yanardağ, and Necati Özkan have been referred to the Peace Criminal Court with a request for their arrest.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his position after being arrested as part of the 'corruption' investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the strategist Necati Özkan, the appointed trustee General Manager of TELE 1 Merdan Yanardağ, technology investor Hüseyin Gün, and the suspect Melih Geçek are under investigation regarding the 'espionage' allegations.
REQUEST FOR ARREST OF 3 NAMES
As part of the "Espionage" investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Merdan Yanardağ, and Necati Özkan were referred to the Peace Criminal Court with a request for arrest.
DECISION FOR 2 PEOPLE
On the other hand, Hüseyin Gün, who benefited from effective remorse in the "Espionage" investigation, was arrested on July 4, and Melih Geçek was sent to prison because he was already detained for another crime.
İMAMOĞLU'S STATEMENT REVEALED
Ekrem İmamoğlu's statement given at the Istanbul Courthouse as part of the investigation initiated with the 'espionage' allegation has emerged.
İmamoğlu stated that he did not remember Hüseyin Gün, who confessed by benefiting from effective remorse, and he could not recall the photo they took together that was published in the media after the investigation was initiated.
"IN MY VIEW, ESPIONAGE IS EQUIVALENT TO TREASON"
İmamoğlu continued his statement with the following words: "I also do not remember the issue of thanking him for the alleged assistance during the campaign process after the visit with the person he identified as his spiritual mother. Because I thanked many people since I was elected president at that time. If he claimed to have provided support, I may have thanked him out of courtesy.
The statements made by Hüseyin Gün are nothing but some of the most absurd comments I have ever heard in my life. It is absolutely unreasonable for someone who I understood met Necati Özkan in early June 2019 and claimed to have helped my election campaign to direct and influence my entire campaign within 15 days. Because I had conducted a 7-month election campaign at that time. Reducing my entire campaign period to just 15 days is not in line with the normal course of life. Being invited due to the allegation of espionage is an insult to my entire life. In my view, espionage is equivalent to treason."
WHAT HAPPENED?
As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an "espionage" accusation was directed in connection with the file of the detained presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. The prosecutor's office claimed that evidence was obtained indicating that user data in the applications named Istanbul Senin and İBB Hanem were illegally transferred abroad and put up for sale.
According to the allegations, data belonging to 3.7 million users were leaked to foreign countries; additionally, it was claimed that the voter and ballot information of some citizens were transferred outside through the "İBB Hanem" application.