The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, his advisor Necati Özkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardağ, on charges of espionage and political espionage.
According to the prosecution, a criminal organization was allegedly established to conduct corruption activities and espionage operations aimed at securing international support.
Allegations in the Investigation
The investigation file includes claims such as unauthorized access to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s institutional data and public systems, analyzing social media communications to gain electoral advantage, and using the encrypted messaging app “Wickr Me” for secret reporting and data analysis. Authorities also claim that some information was leaked to international networks and even offered for sale on the dark web.
Additionally, a man named Hüseyin Gün reportedly sought to benefit from effective remorse provisions, giving statements allegedly linking him to foreign-supported espionage activities.
“İstanbul Senin” Platform and Data Leak Accusations
At the center of the investigation is the “İstanbul Senin” (Istanbul Is Yours) digital platform developed by the municipality. Prosecutors allege that through this application, the personal data, location details, and system information of millions of users were illegally transferred abroad.
Some of the data were allegedly offered for sale on the dark web, and through the sub-module “İBB Hanem”, data connected to voter information belonging to around eleven million citizens were allegedly leaked outside the system.
As part of the probe, several people were reportedly detained on charges of unlawfully obtaining and distributing personal data and being members of a profit-oriented criminal organization.
Public and Political Reactions
The investigation’s exposure to the public has sparked two opposing views.
The first view sees the allegations of “data leaks,” “foreign transfers,” and “voter information breaches” as serious and weighty accusations.
The second view, however, held by a broader segment of the public, considers the allegations illogical, politically motivated, and lacking in credible evidence.
Experts have also noted that such a large-scale data breach would be technically very difficult, and that directly associating these claims with İmamoğlu is overstated.
Claims of “Political Motive”
Opposition voices frequently argue that the government’s real aim is to seize control of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality through this investigation. According to this view, the ongoing process is part of a political strategy to interfere with the municipality’s functioning, weaken public support, and influence the upcoming election climate.
İmamoğlu’s Response
Ekrem İmamoğlu has categorically denied all accusations. He described the charges as a grave insult and labeled the investigation a “conspiracy theory.” According to İmamoğlu, the process is entirely politically driven and devoid of factual basis.
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