Overview

• Protests erupted across Turkey following the arrest and removal of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, drawing tens of thousands nationwide and hundreds of thousands in Istanbul.
• A viral video of a protester in a Pikachu costume fleeing police in Antalya has become a contentious symbol of the demonstrations.
• Pro-government media, including CNN Türk, accused protesters of using the Pikachu costume as 'psychological warfare' to attract support and sympathy.
• While some protesters have embraced the Pikachu costume as a symbol of resistance, critics argue it trivializes the protests, which have involved violence and mass arrests.
• The Turkish Interior Ministry reports nearly 2,000 arrests during the protests, with several hundred individuals placed in pretrial detention as demonstrations continue to escalate.