Up to 20 years in prison requested! A political espionage case has been opened against 4 individuals, including Ekrem İmamoğlu.

04.02.2026 18:33

The investigation regarding the 'espionage' allegations against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul and arrested, along with Necati Özkan, Hüseyin Gün, and Merdan Yanardağ, has been completed. An indictment has been prepared for four suspects within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and a public case has been opened. The indictment requests that the suspects be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 15 to 20 years for the crime of "political espionage."

The 'espionage' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been completed.

INDICTMENT AGAINST 4 SUSPECTS INCLUDING İMAMOĞLU

According to the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the indictment prepared against the suspects Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, Hüseyin Gün, and Merdan Yanardağ, who are currently in custody, for the crime of "political espionage" has been completed as of today, and a public case has been opened.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul and arrested, along with Merdan Yanardağ, the appointed General Manager of TELE1 TV, and Necati Özkan, İmamoğlu's detained advisor and campaign director, were arrested on October 27 on charges of 'political espionage'. Thus, İmamoğlu was arrested for the second time, following the 'corruption' investigation, now for the 'espionage' investigation.

In a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was claimed that İmamoğlu, referred to as the 'organization leader', had illegally taken over the CHP as the 'İmamoğlu Profit-Oriented Criminal Organization', and committed espionage by transferring the personal data of citizens in Istanbul to foreign intelligence agencies to create funds for his presidential candidacy and to commit financial crimes for this purpose.

The key figure in the espionage investigation, Hüseyin Gün, had provided a detailed statement requesting to benefit from the effective remorse provisions. Gün, who gave a 262-page statement at the police, was sent to the prison where he was held on July 4.