Türkiye detains 343 people amid protests against Erdoğan rival's detention
Photo: More than 300 people were detained during the protests in Türkiye (Getty Images)
In Türkiye, 343 people were detained during overnight protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu is the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, informs Reuters.
The protests in support of İmamoğlu took place in over 10 cities across Türkiye, including Istanbul and Ankara. The Turkish Ministry of the Interior stated that the detentions were made to prevent “disrupting of public order.”
Reuters also warned that the government would not tolerate "chaos and provocations."
There are huge protests across over the arrest of Istanbul mayor Imamoglu. And numerous others. While has been clear in its views remains silent. pic.twitter.com/2eUU7ao3BV
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) March 22, 2025
Protests in Türkiye
On March 19, Turkish authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on suspicion of corruption and aiding a terrorist group. İmamoğlu is considered the primary political opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In addition to extortion and fraud, İmamoğlu is accused of assisting the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is considered a terrorist organization in Türkiye. The conflict with the group has been ongoing since 1984.
The Istanbul mayor has rejected all accusations, calling the investigation politically motivated.
İmamoğlu's arrest triggered large-scale protests in several cities across Türkiye. The social media platform X blocked the accounts of users who shared information about the protests.
For more on the reasons for the protests in Türkiye and the West's reaction, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
