The trial of jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu began on Monday in the high-security court complex in Silivri, marking the start of a massive corruption case that critics say is politically motivated and aimed at sidelining a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Read More: Turkish court jails Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu pending trial
The case involves more than 400 defendants and has drawn intense attention from international observers, opposition supporters and human rights organisations. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticised the proceedings, accusing Turkish authorities of using the justice system to target political opponents.
Dik duranlar buradadır, milletin mücadelesi buradadır. pic.twitter.com/D56cjutsbb
— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) March 9, 2026
Imamoglu, who was arrested on March 19 last year, appeared in court for the opening session of the sweeping corruption trial. Prosecutors are seeking an extraordinary sentence of up to 2,430 years in prison if he is convicted of the numerous charges brought against him.
However, the hearing quickly encountered complications. The presiding judge suspended proceedings after about 15 minutes, delaying the start of the trial. When the session resumed later in the day, defence lawyers requested that the judge recuse himself, citing alleged procedural irregularities and concerns about impartiality.
Supporters inside the courtroom cheered as Imamoglu and other defendants entered, according to reports from journalists present at the hearing. Among those attending the session were opposition lawmakers, foreign diplomats and members of Imamoglu’s family, including his wife.
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The mayor, widely regarded as one of the few politicians capable of defeating Erdogan in a national election, was detained the same day he was nominated as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party.
Prosecutors have charged the 54-year-old with 142 offences, including corruption, embezzlement and espionage, in an indictment spanning nearly 4,000 pages. Authorities allege he led an extensive criminal network within municipal structures, accusations the opposition strongly rejects.