Overview

• Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a leading opposition figure, was arrested on March 19 as part of investigations into alleged corruption and ties to the outlawed PKK group.
• The arrest comes a day after Istanbul University invalidated Imamoglu's diploma, effectively disqualifying him from running for president under Turkish law.
• Protests erupted across Turkey, with opposition leaders denouncing the arrest as politically motivated and an attack on democratic rights.
• The Turkish lira and stock market suffered significant declines, reflecting investor concerns about political instability and the judiciary's independence.
• International organizations and foreign governments, including Germany and the EU, have condemned the arrest as a major setback for democracy in Turkey.