The Mayor of Ekrem Imamogu is expected to be in prison west of Istanbul from 23. March, regret the verdict, which is part of several current court proceedings against him.
The case, which precedes his arrest, arises from the comment given in 20. January in which he criticized the Chief Public Prosecutor Istanbul Akin Gurlek, accusing him that he targeted opposition figures through allegedly politically motivated investigations.
The Court condemned Imaglu on Wednesday for insulting and threatening to Gurlek, but he released him the charges that he made him public with the intent to make him a target. Imamagu, who is considered the main challenger of Erdogan’s more than a decade of long rule, denied the charges.
The mayor was arrested together with other politicians from the main opposition party within the investigation on the alleged corruption.
His arrest caused the largest street protests in Turkey in more than a decade. Despite the fact that he was behind the bars, he was officially nominated for the presidential candidate of the main opposition of the Republican National Party (CHP). The elections should be held in 2028, but could be held before.
From Imaglu’s arrest, dozens of municipal officials under the control of CHP faced the waves of arrest within the investigation on alleged floor adjustment and bribery. The arrests caused wide criticism of opposition leaders who claim that the charges were politically motivated.
IMAGLU described the trial as “punishment, not justice” and accused the judiciary to act under the pressure of the Government. The Erdogan government insists that the courts are impartial and liberated of political interference, the AP is transmitted.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
