Charges and allegations: On 11 November 2025 Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek announced a sweeping corruption indictment against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other Republican People’s Party (CHP) figures.[1] The 3,900+ page document names over 400 suspects and charges Imamoğlu with 143 separate criminal acts. Key allegations include establishing and leading a criminal organisation, bribery, money laundering, fraud against public institutions, as well as extortion and rigging of public tenders.[2] Prosecutors assert Imamoğlu directed a “vast corruption network” that siphoned state funds (reported losses of roughly ₺160 billion) through kickbacks on municipal contracts.[3] In particular, the indictment lists 12 counts of bribery and 7 counts each of money laundering and fraud for Imamoğlu.[4] Other allegations (which Imamoğlu vehemently denies) include concealment of evidence, illicit collection and dissemination of personal data, obstruction of justice, intentional environmental pollution, and violations of tax, forestry and mining laws.[5]

Statutes and legal provisions: The prosecution invokes numerous laws. Imamoğlu is accused of crimes under the Turkish Penal Code (e.g. Article 220 §5 on organising or leading a criminal group).[6] Charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering fall under the relevant articles of the Penal Code and related financial crime statutes. The indictment also cites provisions of other laws (e.g. the Tax Procedure Law, Forestry Law and Mining Law) in relation to specific offences.[7] In a separate action linked to the case, the prosecutor’s office formally alerted the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) under Article 69 of the Turkish Constitution and Article 101 et seq. of Law No. 2820 (Political Parties Law) – constitutional provisions governing party closure.[8] [9] (The office later clarified that this was a mandatory notification under the parties law, and not a direct motion to dissolve the CHP.[10])

Judicial authorities and procedural status: The indictment was prepared and announced by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and has been formally filed with an İstanbul High Criminal Court (İstanbul 2nd High Criminal Court).[11] In court filings and statements, Gürlek identified 402 defendants in the IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) case.[12] Of these, roughly 105 individuals (including İmamoğlu) are already in pre‑trial detention.[13] Imamoğlu has been held in custody since March 2025 on related graft charges.[14] The prosecutors say that, if convicted on all counts, Imamoğlu faces a cumulative sentence on the order of 2,400 years (reports cite ranges from 828 up to 2,430 years).[15]

Trial proceedings will follow once the court formally “accepts” the indictment. The office indicated that the court will then set a date for hearings.[16] Meanwhile, two CHP members of parliament (Turan Taşkın Özer and Özgür Karabat) named as co-accused in the indictment have parliamentary immunity. Accordingly, the file has been referred to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor with a request to lift their immunity.[17] In summary, the legal process currently involves the indictment’s review by the Istanbul court, a possible immunity vote for the MPs, and any decision by the Court of Cassation regarding the party closure notification.

Judicial references: Charges and evidence in the indictment are said to rely on findings by financial crime investigators and sworn testimony (including secret witnesses). The Chief Prosecutor cited Turkish law throughout his announcement (e.g. Penal Code Article 220/5 for criminal organisation leadership). The formal party-closure notification cited Constitution Article 69 (and Article 68) together with Political Parties Law 2820, Art.101ff as the basis for notifying the Court of Cassation.[18] All procedures to date – filing of the indictment, transfer to the High Criminal Court, and notification to Yargıtay – have been publicly acknowledged by the prosecutor’s office.

[1] Spicer, J., & Toksabay, E. (2025, November 11). Turkish prosecutor seeks 2,000 years for jailed opposition mayor of Istanbul. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/turkish-prosecutor-seeks-2000-year-jail-term-istanbul-mayor-imamoglu-graft-case-2025-11-11/

[2] Associated Press. (2025, November 11). Prosecutor seeks 2,352-year jail term for Istanbul’s jailed mayor over alleged corruption. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/11/turkey-indictment-jailed-istanbul-mayor-imamoglu/5c48d76e-beff-11f0-8eee-a78486b4c797_story.html

[3] Turkish prosecutors seek over 2,000 years for incarcerated Istanbul mayor. (2025, April 30). OCCRP. https://www.occrp.org/en/news/turkish-prosecutors-seek-over-2000-years-for-incarcerated-istanbul-mayor

[4] See footnote 90.

[5] İBB indictment in 10 questions: A summary of the 4,000-page text. (2025, November 12). birgun.net. https://www.birgun.net/haber/ibb-indictment-in-10-questions-a-summary-of-the-4-000-page-text-668420

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Cumhuriyet. (2025, November 11). İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı’ndan flaş açıklama. CHP’nin kapatılması mı isteniyor? Copyright (C) 2025 Yeni Gün Haber Ajansı Basın Ve Yayıncılık a.Ş. https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/istanbul-cumhuriyet-bassavciligi-ndan-flas-aciklama-chp-nin-kapatilmasi-mi-isteniyor-2451802

[9] Hürriyet Daily News. (2025, November 11). İmamoğlu faces up to 2,000 years in prison in graft case. Hürriyet Daily News. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/imamoglu-faces-up-to-2-000-years-in-prison-in-graft-case-215615

[10] News. (n.d.). “Statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the allegations of a request to close the CHP.” Haberler.com. https://en.haberler.com/statement-from-the-chief-public-prosecutor-s-19242909/

[11] See footnotes 90 and 91.

[12] See foonotes 89 and 91.

[13] See footnote 91.

[14] See footnote 89.

[15] See footnotes 90 and 93.

[16] See footnotes 90 and 97

[17] See footnote 97.

[18] See footnote 96.