İmamoğlu's first statement regarding the espionage investigation.

24.10.2025 12:50

In the corruption investigation, a espionage investigation has been launched against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ, who were arrested. It is 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. Following the shocking news of the investigation, İmamoğlu made his first statement.

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Former İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from office and arrested as part of a corruption investigation, has been subjected to an investigation for "espionage" along with İmamoğlu's campaign director Necati Özkan and journalist Merdan Yanardağ. Merdan Yanardağ has been detained.

After the "espionage" investigation, Ekrem İmamoğlu made a statement from the Presidential Candidate Office account on the X platform. In this statement, İmamoğlu said, "Such an accusation, lie, and conspiracy would not even come to the devil's mind! We are facing an indescribable, shameful immorality. What kind of ambition, what kind of seat greed, what kind of fear and helplessness is this? Are you going to convince this noble nation, whom you could not persuade with accusations of corruption and terrorism, with an unbelievable slander like espionage? My dear nation; The operations carried out through the judiciary today have turned into a very significant and historical threat for the Republic of Turkey, the exalted Turkish Judiciary, and our 86 million citizens. But never lose hope: With determination, resolve, and patience, we will continue our struggle against this handful of greedy individuals for the survival of our state and nation."

DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION

As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, on July 4, 2025, suspect Hüseyin Gün was arrested for espionage and 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 turmoil occurring in different countries. When examining the digital materials belonging to Hüseyin Gün, it was learned that there were photos of military ammunition and weapons that civilians or companies could not possibly obtain, as well as passport photos of Israeli citizens who were found to be active in military or political fields in Israel.

TRACES OF FETÖ AND KCK

Additionally, it was learned that there were communication links with suspects who were subject to judicial action under the FETÖ/PDY Armed Terrorist Organization, as well as suspects who were subject to judicial action under the PKK/KCK Armed Terrorist Organization, through GSM lines, and that numerous communication records with various country consular officials were also reached. As a result of the MASAK examination regarding Hüseyin Gün; despite not having any commercial enterprise, it was reported that he made large amounts of domestic and international money transfers, and that 85 million Turkish Liras were withdrawn from his accounts, with no record of any purchase or sale 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 determined that among the documents understood to belong to the suspect, there were notes regarding coup attempts and internal turmoil events occurring in different countries, that he kept daily records of the people and institutions he met across the country, and that there were contents indicating he provided information about our country to intelligence agents or political figures operating on behalf of a foreign country. Additionally, it was found 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 country 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, presenting his commercial identity prominently.

As a result of examining Gün's contacts; it was found that he had established contact with many foreign country intelligence officers, and that he communicated with a foreign country 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 country 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 he had with Necati Özkan, one of the 'Ekrem İmamoğlu organized crime group' leaders, through the same messaging program; statements were found 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.'

"COLLABORATION IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN"

It was learned that the main purpose of the 'Ekrem İmamoğlu criminal organization' was to obtain financial benefits by creating a fund for Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy, and that Hüseyin Gün, one of the crime organization leaders, collaborated with Necati Özkan for this purpose during the 2019 local election campaign, particularly by leaking confidential 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, and these actions were evaluated as espionage activities. It was also determined that Gün had contact with İmamoğlu and held joint meetings.

CONTACT BETWEEN YANARDAĞ AND GÜN DETECTED

Within the scope of the investigation, it was learned 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 written to prepare Ekrem İmamoğlu and Necati Özkan for questioning regarding the espionage crimes within the scope of this investigation, 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.