According to the announcement from the Istanbul Mayor's Office on March 19, many roads, metro stations and electric vehicle services have been closed to maintain public order and prevent potential provincial acts. A four-day ban on protests in Istanbul has also been imposed across the city from 19 to 23 March, including all meetings, protests and press reports.
Turkey Today reported that the Istanbul Procuracy has issued an arrest warrant for Imamoglu and 6 others on charges of "supporting the terrorist organization of the Parti workers' party (PKK)/alianation of the Parti people's community (KCK)". The investigation focused on the suspected participants in the "urban consensus" initiative, which is believed to expand the influence of PKK/KCK in urban areas in the local election on March 31, 2024.
The prosecution also accused the two leaders of PKK/KCK, Cemil Bayik and Mustafa Karasu, of giving pre-election instructions through media channels linked to the organization. The investigation also found a link between the Istanbul government and the People's Democratic Congress (HDK), a political platform linked to the PKK/KCK.
The arrested include Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul government Deputy General Secretary Mahir Polat, Sisli District Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, Mehmet Ali Caliskan Reform Institute Chairman, an individual accused of being a key member of the PKK/KCK abbreviated as A.B., former employee of Spectrum House H.A. suspected of recruiting members for PKK/KCK and Deputy Mayor of Sisli Ebru Ozdemir District.
The authorities have accused these people of hiring personnel linked to PKK/KCK into subsidiaries of the city government, including the Istanbul Planning Agency and BIMTAS.
The investigation continues, with 18 city officials arrested in connection with the incidents and many other suspects under scrutiny. Istanbul anti-terrorism police have been ordered to coordinate the arrest, search and seizure of evidence. It is not yet clear how many of the names of the suspects have been detained.
So far, Imamoglu and those involved have yet to make an official statement about the incident.
