Overview

• Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure and key rival to President Erdogan, was arrested on charges of corruption and aiding the PKK days before his expected nomination as the CHP's presidential candidate.
• Nationwide protests have erupted, with demonstrators clashing with police and defying bans on gatherings; over 50 individuals have been detained for social media posts and protest activities.
• The Turkish government denies political motivations, asserting judicial independence, but critics and opposition leaders have labeled the arrest a politically driven effort to block Imamoglu's candidacy.
• The arrest has destabilized Turkey's financial markets, with the lira hitting record lows and investor confidence shaken by the political turmoil.
• European leaders have condemned the arrest, warning it could harm Turkey's democratic institutions and relations with the European Union.