The tense atmosphere outside the Istanbul courthouse, where thousands of supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu have gathered and are cheering in support of the Istanbul mayor, who appeared before black squads for the first time today after being arrested on terrorism charges.
Despite the ban on gatherings, which was extended until March 27, Imamoglu's supporters are staying outside the courthouse, while the proceedings with 34 investigators and 91 defendants ( including Imamoglu ) are expected to last all night.
Police forces have turned the Palace of Justice into a fortress after being reinforced with 5,000 of their colleagues from other regions of the country, to maintain peace and order.
Imamoglu, who was arrested on Wednesday for "corruption" and "supporting a terrorist organization," arrived at the Caglayan Court in Istanbul this afternoon to appear before the prosecutor, who will decide whether to extend the detention of the mayor, who is the main opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The mayor of Istanbul has called the police accusations "immoral and baseless ," according to a statement released today by the Turkish city's municipality.
"The unethical and baseless accusations against me, from fabricated reports to the timing of the investigations, aim to damage my reputation and credibility. Those behind this strategy will have to be held accountable for their actions before the courts. I will file a lawsuit against the individuals and institutions involved in this. This process not only damages Turkey's international reputation, it also destroys trust in justice and the economy," the mayor stressed, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the Istanbul Stock Exchange index fell more than 16.5% this week, a decline not seen since 2008, according to analysts.
The mayor says he “ feels the power of millions of people ” who support him. “ No matter what happens, I will fight for justice and truth by legal means until the end of my life ,” he declared. (A2 Televizion)
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