The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has requested a sentence of 15 to 20 years for four suspects, including former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, as part of an investigation into the criminal offense of “political espionage.”
According to the indictment, the criminal offenses are alleged to have been committed during the period 2019–2025 and include not only Imamoğlu, who was dismissed from office after his arrest, but also Hüseyin Gün, Nejati Özkan and Merdan Yandadaş.
The case is linked to a broader investigation against Imamoğlu for “establishing a criminal organization for financial gain,” which also includes charges of political espionage. The indictment has been sent to the Istanbul 25th Criminal Court for review.
The indictment filed by the Istanbul General Prosecutor’s Office consists of 160 pages, describing an international digital network that allegedly exploited the Istanbul Municipality database for political espionage activities and manipulation of electoral processes.
Former mayor Imamoğlu has been facing this new charge of “political espionage” since the fall of 2025. According to the prosecution’s investigations, his election group is linked to a businessman who collaborated with British intelligence services to collect and distribute personal voter data and election information, through municipal applications, in order to secure international support for his presidential candidacy.
Imamoğlu, who has been in prison since March 2025 on charges related to “corruption” and “insulting the prosecutor,” denies all charges, calling them politically motivated.
The trial on the 142 charges, including espionage, is set for March 9, 2026, with the prosecution seeking high sentences.
