Turkish prosecutors have launched a probe against the leader of the country’s main opposition party for allegedly insulting a senior ally of the government, state television reports.
The case against Ozgur Ozel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is the latest development in a tense struggle between allies of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponents that has sparked mass protests.
Prosecutors opened an investigation into claims that Ozel threatened and insulted Istanbul’s chief prosecutor Akin Gurlek, state television channel TRT reports, citing a statement from his office.
Ozel is accused of launching a verbal attack against Gurlek at a rally in Istanbul on Wednesday evening.
A former deputy justice minister, Gurlek has been accused by opponents of going after Erdogan’s rivals through a series of cases launched since he was appointed to the post in October.
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