Amid the Historic Decline of the Turkish Lira Due to the İmamoğlu Crisis… He Denounces the Charges Against Him

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in custody for several days, has condemned the corruption and terrorism charges against him, calling them “unethical and baseless,” according to a statement released by the Istanbul Municipality on Saturday.

The statement asserts that the accusations are based on fabricated reports and that the timing of the investigations aims to damage İmamoğlu’s reputation and credibility in the public eye. İmamoğlu also demanded that those responsible for the allegations be held legally accountable, vowing to file complaints against individuals and institutions involved, without naming them.

According to the statement, İmamoğlu warned that his case could harm Turkey’s international reputation and negatively impact its economy.

Meanwhile, amid ongoing protests in major cities since March 19, the Borsa Istanbul stock exchange saw a 16.5% drop in its main index by March 23—a record decline not seen since 2008.