Turkish prosecutors indicted former Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on 2,000-year prison sentence charges for alleged leadership of a criminal organization from city hall. The trial, opening Monday, accuses Imamoglu of bribery, extortion, and money laundering. Supporters and analysts, including Berlin's Center for Applied Turkey Studies director Sinem Adar, see the prosecution as a political move to block Imamoglu from challenging President Erdogan in the 2028 election.

The timing is suspect: Imamoglu was arrested days after being named his party's presidential candidate. Critics point to leaks favoring the government and the prosecutor's prior role as Erdogan's deputy justice minister, now promoted to cabinet. Erdogan, facing domestic inflation woes and recent electoral losses, denies political motives, claiming the judiciary is independent.

Imamoglu, jailed since March 2026, denies all charges and claims he won't get a fair trial. The case underscores Erdogan's use of legal tools against rivals, threatening his political future if Imamoglu remains a viable opponent.