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Ekrem Imamoglu

Republican People’s Party or (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel gestures to party members during his speech during a CHP convention, in Ankara, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
July 21, 2026, 7:46 pm
Turkey’s ousted opposition leader says he is forming new party to take on Erdogan
Ozgur Ozel, who was forced out of post by controversial May court ruling, says he’s leaving CHP for ‘new beginning,’ as weakened opposition looks to battle Erdogan’s grip on power
By Fulya Ozerkan
A protester holds a banner with the pictures of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a rally organized by the country's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), to protest the suspension and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor, in Istanbul on October 26, 2025. (Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
October 26, 2025, 10:25 pm
Protests outside Istanbul courthouse, as jailed mayor accused of espionage
Probe is the latest in a series of charges that critics say are designed to sideline the only candidate believed capable of defeating President Erdogan in an election
By AFP
Leader of Turkey's main opposition party, Republican People's Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel (C) gives a press conference near Marmara Prison, known as Silivri Prison, in Istanbul, on September 26, 2025. (Ozan KOSE / AFP)
October 24, 2025, 2:27 pm
Turkish court throws out case aiming to oust opposition leader
Local stock market boosted after closing of case against Ozgur Ozel; new espionage probe opened against Istanbul mayor Imamoglu, an Erdogan rival imprisoned since March
By Agencies
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a media conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
July 5, 2025, 11:49 am
3 mayors arrested in southern Turkey as part of crackdown on opposition to Erdogan
Antalya, Adiyaman and Adana municipality heads join growing list of Republican People’s Party politicians detained on corruption charges since March arrest of Istanbul mayor
By AP
Illustrative: Riot police disperse protestors in front of the city hall during a rally in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor, in Istanbul, on March 24, 2025 (OZAN KOSE / AFP)
May 31, 2025, 3:04 pm
Turkish authorities order detention of dozens of opposition officials in crackdown
Opposition-run municipalities raided amid widening measures against Istanbul mayor seen as Erdogan’s main political rival
By Reuters
This handout photograph taken and released by the Republican People's Party (CHP) press office on March 29, 2025, shows an aerial view of a large crowd gathering during a rally called by the CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor Ekrem Imanoglu in Maltepe, on the outskirts of Istanbul. (HANDOUT / Republican People's Party (CHP) Press Service / AFP)
March 29, 2025, 8:44 pm
Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, gather at Istanbul rally to protest against Erdogan
After controversial arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, week of unrest culminates in giant demonstration in Turkey’s largest city, with some estimates putting crowd size in the millions
By Fulya Ozerkan and Anne CHAON
Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu addresses his supporters in front of the Istanbul courthouse, in Istanbul, Turkey, January 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
March 19, 2025, 8:54 am
Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival, arrested; internet restrictions imposed in Turkey
Ekrem Imamoglu had been expected to win opposition party’s presidential primary on Sunday; detention warrants issued for 100 people; demonstrations banned in Istanbul for 4 days
By Agencies
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main center-left opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) receives official mandate to serve five more years in Istanbul on April 3, 2024. (Yasin Akgul/ AFP/ File)
April 29, 2024, 4:01 am
Top Erdogan rival: October 7 ‘deeply saddening,’ Hamas a ‘terrorist organization’
Reelected Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely seen as challenger for Turkey’s presidency, also tells CNN ‘brutal oppression’ of Palestinians in Israel must end
By ToI Staff
Turkey's President and leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting to address the parliamentary group of his party at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara on January 4, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP)
January 5, 2023, 11:56 am
Feuding hampers Turkish opposition’s efforts to unite against Erdogan
Despite recent gains, top 6 opposition heads failing to capitalize on veteran leader’s relative weakness, impeded by his stranglehold on media and courts
By Fulya Ozerkan
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu joins his supporters as they gather in front of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality during a protest in Istanbul, after a Turkish court sentenced him to nearly three years jail in a politically charged trial, on December 14, 2022. (Yasin AKGUL/AFP)
December 14, 2022, 11:20 pm
Istanbul’s opposition mayor barred from politics over ‘insult’ to regime officials
Though Ekrem Imamoglu unlikely to face jail time, court ruling disqualifies him from political office — preventing challenge to Erdogan for presidency
By Dmitry Zaks
Thousands of supporters surround the new Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu from Turkey's main opposition opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), as he makes a speech from the top of his campaign bus after taking office, in Istanbul, June 27, 2019. (BULENT KILIC / AFP)
June 27, 2019, 9:07 pm
Huge crowd cheers Istanbul mayor inauguration
Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu wins re-run of mayoral vote in landslide victory seen as blow to Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan
By Fulya Ozerkan
Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the secular opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) listen during his last election rally before a re-run ballot in Istanbul on June 22, 2019. (Adem ALTAN/AFP)
June 23, 2019, 10:19 am
Istanbul votes again, in test for Erdogan and Turkish democracy
New mayoral election called after ruling AKP party alleged corruption caused its shock defeat in previous vote
By Fulya Ozerkan and Raziye AKKOC
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses an election rally in Istanbul, March 24, 2019. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)
May 6, 2019, 11:13 pm
Turkey election body orders Istanbul re-vote
Erdogan’s AKP party complained of irregularities after losing control of Turkey’s largest city for the first time in 25 years; new vote set for June 23
By Fulya Ozerkan and Eric RANDOLPH
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