11.05.2026 14:17
In the espionage case where Ekrem İmamoğlu, Hüseyin Gün, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ are tried, the first hearing regarding him is taking place. İmamoğlu requested that his defense turn be moved forward so he could attend the hearing in the other room of the İBB case. The court president stated they could evaluate this situation.
The trial has begun for Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) following his arrest as part of the "İmamoğlu for-profit criminal organization" case, along with Hüseyin Gün, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ, facing up to 20 years in prison each on charges of "espionage."
At the first hearing held by the Istanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court in the hall opposite Marmara Closed Penitentiary Institution, detained defendants İmamoğlu, Özkan, Yanardağ, and Gün were present along with their lawyers.
Some deputy leaders, members of parliament from the CHP, and families of the defendants attended the hearing as observers.
STRICT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN
Extensive security measures were implemented by gendarmerie teams around and inside the courtroom. Media members, lawyers, and spectators were admitted to the hall after identity checks by personnel.
At the start of the hearing, the presiding judge stated that the defenses of defendants Gün, Yanardağ, Özkan, and İmamoğlu would be taken in turn.
İMAMOĞLU REQUESTED TO SPEAK EARLY
Taking the floor at this point, İmamoğlu requested that his turn for defense be moved forward to allow him to attend the hearing of the "İmamoğlu for-profit criminal organization" case being held in another courtroom.
The presiding judge indicated they could consider this request.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against detained defendants Ekrem İmamoğlu, Hüseyin Gün, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ, the period of the crime is stated as 2019-2025.
The indictment states that through data found on Gün's digital materials and identified as belonging to the İBB database, access was gained to the personal information of numerous citizens.
The indictment explains that Özkan indirectly obtained this data, and according to Gün's statement, Özkan transferred many of the municipality's email addresses and passwords, primarily "ibb.gov.tr," to the digital environment known as "Ostin," described as the underground of the internet, on İmamoğlu's instruction. It is noted that Gün accessed data in the email contents, including documents containing confidential information and internal correspondence of the municipality, using the email addresses and passwords in "Ostin."
The indictment states that a letter dated April 19, 2019, signed by İmamoğlu and sent to the Board of Inspection, authorized 3 externally appointed experts and 2 municipal inspectors to access, examine, and copy all data. It adds, "It was understood that this was done particularly to provide data to foreign intelligence services during election campaigns, and analysis was carried out on the said data under the direction of foreign intelligence services, during which access was gained to confidential or private data between individuals."
The indictment alleges that the transfer of data obtained from intelligence service members occurred within a hierarchical chain among Gün, Özkan, and İmamoğlu, and states, "It was determined that foreign intelligence service member Aaron Barr, Özkan, and Gün acted jointly to conduct perception management activities to remove the ‘İBB 2019 data copying’ process, which had been reflected in the public, from the agenda, and they worked to downplay this issue. It was understood that they carried out this work again on İmamoğlu's instruction."
The indictment includes the statement, "Considering the available evidence and the confessor's statement, it has been determined that Ekrem İmamoğlu, within a hierarchical chain, captured citizens' personal information by using his existing influence and transferred it to foreign intelligence service members, and in the subsequent process, aimed to gain political benefits, and this involvement was carried out together with Özkan and Gün."
The indictment notes that information in the İBB database, which is closely related to state security or political interests and of a nature that could endanger these values if obtained, and which is essentially secret, was uploaded to the dark platform of the internet on İmamoğlu's instruction by Özkan. It includes the following findings:
"By gaining access to all citizens' phones and social media correspondence, in a manner fully fitting the definition of the crime of 'political espionage,' it was understood that information related to the governance, exercise of governing authority, and administration of the state was collected for the benefit of a foreign state, to the detriment of the State of Turkey, its citizens, or those residing in Turkey, in line with the secret purposes of a state or organization. In light of all information, documents, and explanations, it is understood that the crime of 'political espionage' aimed to gain a say in Turkish politics, particularly in Istanbul, by ensuring İmamoğlu's election victory through manipulation of the 2019 local elections, and activities were carried out toward this end."
Additionally, the indictment demands that İmamoğlu, Gün, Özkan, and Yanardağ be sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison each for the crime of "political espionage."