An investigation was launched against CHP member Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested on March 23, 2025, as part of the corruption investigation, for espionage. In the digital materials examined by Hüseyin Gün, who was arrested for espionage, an arrest warrant was issued for Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan and TELE1 founder Merdan Yanardağ for cooperating in the 2019 local election campaign and leaking confidential information about voters. With the indictment prepared within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, imprisonment of İmamoğlu, Hüseyin Gün, Necati Özkan and Merdan Yanardağ was requested from 15 to 20 years each. The prepared indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court. The court ruled that the first hearing of the case would be held in Silivri on May 11.

INSTRUCTION FROM İMAMOĞLU

In the accepted indictment, it was stated that İmamoğlu aimed to gain political benefit by transferring citizens’ personal information to foreign intelligence service members. It was included in the indictment that the data in question was provided by Necati Özkan and that Gün transferred Özkan’s many e-mail addresses and passwords belonging to the municipality, especially “ibb.gov.tr”, to the underground digital environment of the internet world called “Ostin”, under the instructions of İmamoğlu.

Aaron Barr

In the indictment, it was stated that foreign intelligence service personnel Aaron Barr, Necati Özkan and Hüseyin Gün stepped in to remove the IMM 2019 data copying process from the agenda. It was determined that the suspects, acting together, created a perception and worked to remove the copying issue from the agenda. It was pointed out that the data copying took place with İmamoğlu’s permission letter, and in his effective statement of regret, Gün obtained the citizen’s information in exchange for İmamoğlu’s election campaign.

Merdan Yanardag

HIS MAIN PURPOSE WAS SOMETHING ELSE

The indictment stated, “In light of all the information, documents and explanations, it has been understood that the crime of ‘political espionage’ was aimed at having a say in Turkish politics, especially in Istanbul, by ensuring that the suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was supported by manipulating the 2019 local elections, won the election, and activities were carried out in this direction.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the governors’ meeting program held at the Presidential Complex. “The governorship is the reflection of the state on the field. The governor is the meeting point of the citizen and the state,” said President Erdoğan, adding that there should be no power poisoning in serving the nation. Erdoğan warned the governors about social media and said, “Scenes that do not suit the seriousness of our state are emerging… I believe that you will show the highest level of sensitivity on this issue.”

OUR BODY IS UNDER THE STONE

By initiating the terror-free Türkiye process, we put not only our hands but also our bodies under the responsibility to break the half-century-old bloody shackle that has been placed on our nation. Despite the dark forces that want to sabotage the process, we have been managing the process with great sensitivity and exceptional success for 16 months.

I am sending our messages of solidarity to my Gazan brothers. As long as we support each other and heal our wounds, I express once again that those beautiful days when peace and stability will reign in our region and geography are very close. As long as we stand tall against oppression and oppressors. Let’s protect our faith and dreams. Then there will be no trap, game or scenario that we cannot break. Peace and tranquility are very close in our region.

Speaking to journalists after returning from Ethiopia, President Erdoğan said that they are determinedly walking towards the path of a terror-free Türkiye. In his address to the governors in Ankara, he said, “We put our bodies under the responsibility to break the half-century-old bloody shackles that have been placed on our nation’s feet.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists’ questions on the plane returning from his visit to Ethiopia. Stating that they completed their one-day visit to Addis Ababa upon the invitation of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Erdoğan expressed his great pleasure in visiting Ethiopia after approximately 11 years. Stating that they discussed the necessary steps to reach the 1 billion dollar trade volume target during the visit, Erdogan’s speech was highlighted as follows:

APPROACHING 35 BILLION DOLLARS

As you know, we increased the number of embassies on the continent to 44. When we took over the power, this number was 12. The embassies of 38 African countries are currently operating in Ankara. Turkish contractors have undertaken more than 2 thousand projects in Africa with a total value of 100 billion dollars. The market value of our investments across the continent exceeded 15 billion dollars. In 2025, our foreign trade volume with the continent will increase by 10 percent, approaching 35 billion dollars. Tens of thousands of students from different corners of the continent are currently studying at Turkish universities. Türkiye graduates take on active roles in every field from politics to business, from academia to civil society in many African countries.

WE WALK WITH DETERMINATION

(Terror-free Türkiye process) We have set out to do a good job and hopefully we will achieve it. This strong will in our country has also spread to Syria. Alhamdulillah, we are walking on this path with patience, wisdom and determination. At the end of this path, I hope the terrorism problem that has harmed our country for years will be removed from our agenda forever.

WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE USA AND IRAN

(Crisis between Iran and the USA) We want the problems to be solved through dialogue. We are in contact with both countries at the highest level. That’s the last time I met with the President of Iran. The next day I had my meeting with US President Trump. We will continue to explain that rising tensions will drag our region into further uncertainty. As long as the door of diplomacy is open, there is hope. We will protect and strengthen this hope.

THE INVITATION HAS RECEIVED, WE WILL PARTICIPATE

(Gaza Peace Board) An invitation has arrived for the Peace Board meeting. We will attend the meeting as Türkiye. Since it coincides with the first day of Ramadan, our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan will represent our country at the meeting.

THEY ADDED STRENGTH TO OUR STRENGTH

(Hate speech against Eskişehir Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş): The struggle of our sister Zeynep in Mihalgazi is not an ordinary struggle. After our phone conversation, 200 people packed the buses from Mihalgazi and attended our group meeting that day, adding further strength to us. Hopefully, with the support we give to sister Zeynep, we will strive to keep her much more successful both in Eskişehir and throughout the country.

CORRUPTION SURROUNDED CHP

The situation CHP finds itself in is too complicated to be explained by the dynamics of politics. Mr. Chairman, everywhere he goes, heaps insult after insult on me and my friends. You can’t get anywhere with these insults. That’s why we are not interested in the swamp that CHP has fallen into. We mind our business. I hope we continue on our way like this.

SURROUNDED BY CORRUPTION, THEFT, BRIBERY

Now CHP is actually in a very different trap. Corruption, theft and bribery gangs, on the one hand, and extras who are the embodiment of incompetent and incompetent politics, on the other hand, surround the CHP. Foot tricks, certain daggers, and intra-party conspiracies have shifted the CHP’s political ground considerably. It is not possible to explain this simply as lack of vision, incompetence and foresight. We will stand tall. We will not get erect. But we will not leave the field empty for CHP. We are looking at the Kılıçdaroğlu period.

We have witnessed many times that CHP engages in politics with the language of threats, blackmail and insults. But at this point, the CHP Chairman has also cursed the mayor of his own party. Immediately afterwards, CHP deputies attempted to attack the oath ceremony of ministers in our Gazi Parliament. If you are a politician doing politics in the CHP, you are doomed to be cursed, lynched, insulted, and threatened as soon as you criticize the Headquarters administration and those who manage them, even in the slightest way.

WE WILL NOT CARE ABOUT THE HORNY GROAD

President Erdoğan said, “We will never deviate from what we know to be true, without paying attention to the delusions of the horny mob who cannot tolerate our nation living its faith freely even though there has been no intervention in their way of life for 23 years, there is no discussion of secularism in Turkey, and their areas of freedom are not restricted in any way. Those who want to overshadow the joy of Ramadan of 86 million people with the declarations they publish, will cause discord among our nation, in Ramadan, the month of unity and brotherhood.” “We will not say goodbye to polarizing our people,” he said.

IF NECESSARY, BE LIKE HAZRAT OMER

The gate of the state is the gate of need. Our people are ashamed and proud. He doesn’t open his heart to everyone. He does not tell everyone about his troubles and troubles in public. Especially, he does not share his wishes and needs with everyone. That’s why you will seek out our brothers and sisters in need and come to their aid. If necessary, you will go door to door like Hazrat Omar, identify problems on the spot and solve them. With the spread of social media and digital platforms, a significant part of communication activities have shifted here. However, these media sometimes miss the mark. Scenes that do not befit the seriousness of our state are emerging… I believe that you will show the highest level of sensitivity on this issue.

Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, and Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), attended the opening ceremony of the Dhaka University Health Center, renovated by TIKA, in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Stating that Türkiye has come a long way in terms of economic growth, political influence capacity and regional capabilities under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bilal Erdoğan stated that Ankara is in a position to contribute not only to regional peace but also to global peace.

Stating that Erdoğan is a sought-after leader in terms of his thoughts, ideas and contributions to world affairs, Bilal Erdoğan said, “Turkey is the only power in the world today that defends a more just order and a better global system design.” Referring to President Erdoğan’s statement “The world is bigger than five”, Bilal Erdoğan reminded that there was a call for a more fair United Nations (UN) order. Evaluating that Türkiye and Bangladesh are two countries that have a deep-rooted history and maintain their relations on the basis of mutual respect, Erdoğan gave the message that the two countries can develop more cooperation and partnership. Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dhaka Ramis Şen, former football player Mesut Özil and many Bangladeshis attended the ceremony.

The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) shared a post on its social media account regarding the 74th anniversary of Türkiye’s NATO membership. The following statements were used in the post made on the Ministry’s NSosyal account:

“74 years in NATO…

Respected ally for world peace!

Our country continues to make significant contributions to NATO, of which it has been a member since February 18, 1952.

As a country with the second largest army in NATO, Türkiye is among the top five countries that contribute the most to NATO with the support it provides to its operations and missions.

“As a strong and reliable member of NATO, our country will continue to make significant contributions to NATO, as it has done so far.”

74 years in NATO… Respected ally for world peace! 🇹🇷 Our country continues to make significant contributions to NATO, of which it has been a member since February 18, 1952. As a country with the second largest army in NATO, Türkiye contributes the most to NATO with the support it provides to its operations and missions… pic.twitter.com/WCrBeNiq81

— Turkish Ministry of National Defense (@tcsavunma) February 18, 2026

The Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an order to arrest, detain, search and seize 21 municipal employees, including the former Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, on charges of “tender rigging” and “establishing, membership and aiding an organization to commit a crime”. Mayor Alaattin Köseler and 20 suspects were detained on February 27. Within the scope of the investigation, the number of suspects increased to 26, 13 suspects, including Köseler, were arrested on March 4, and it was decided that 9 suspects would be released under judicial control with an international travel ban. An arrest warrant was issued for the three suspects mentioned in the file.

MAYOR KÖSELER WAS REQUESTED TO BE IMPRISONED FOR UP TO 67 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS

In the 402-page report prepared against 26 suspects, including Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, 78 goods and service procurement tenders were scrutinized and the founder of the corruption organization of Mayor Alaattin Köseler, who was suspended from office, his private secretary Veli Gümüş and his private secretary Metin Ülgey were evaluated as managers. Mayor Köseler was requested to be imprisoned for up to 67 years and 3 months for the crimes of “establishing an organization to commit a crime”, “sequentially rigging the tender through fraudulent behavior”, “chained qualified fraud” and “chainly forging official documents”.

IN THE FIRST SEARCH, ALL ARRESTED DEFENDANTS WERE RELEASED

Following the summary sent to the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the court accepted the indictment in the public case filed with the Istanbul Anatolian 17th High Criminal Court. The trial of 26 defendants, including Mayor Köseler, started in September last year. During the hearing, which lasted 3 days in total, the public prosecutor requested the continuation of the detention of the defendants Alaattin Köseler, Veli Gümüş, Serdar Karahan, Havva Dindar and Uğur İnci, and the arrest of the defendant Yıldız Güneş, who was not detained. The prosecutor requested the release of the defendants Metin Ülgey, Fidan Gül, Mustafa Karadağ, Onur Demirci, Yusuf Karaaslan, Mahmut Adalı and Tamer Çapraz, taking into account the time they spent in detention. Announcing its interim decision, the court decided to release 13 detained defendants, including Alaattin Köseler, Veli Gümüş, Serdar Karahan, Havva Dindar, Metin Ülgey, Fidan Gül.

HE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN AFTER RELEASE

Anatolian 17th High Criminal Court, which evaluated the request, stated that the release decisions in question were in accordance with the procedure and law and ruled that there was no need to change the decision. The court sent the file to the Anatolian 18th High Criminal Court, a higher court, to evaluate the decision and objection in question. Evaluating the decision, the upper court accepted the objection and ruled to issue an arrest warrant for the defendants, including Köseler. Thereupon, Alaattin Köseler, Veli Gümüş, Havva Dindar were arrested, and an arrest warrant was issued for the other defendants, Serdar Karahan and Uğur İnci, for whom an arrest warrant was issued.

THEY CAME BEFORE THE JUDGE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME

While the detained defendants, former Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, Veli Gümüş, Havva Dindar, were brought to the hearing at the Istanbul Anatolian 17th High Criminal Court from the prison they were in, the unarrested defendants, Ahmet Furkan Özten, Gülten Tozanlı, Hasan Uysal, Metin Ülgey, Fidan Gül, Tamer Çapraz, Yusuf Karaaslan, Yıldız Güneş, Uğur İnci and lawyers also took their place in the hall. CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik attended the hearing as a spectator. Defendant Uğur İnci, who was released in the previous hearing and later issued a warrant for arrest by the Anatolian 18th High Criminal Court, came to the courtroom. The court president decided that the defendant İnci would remain in the courtroom until the hearing was over, and then instructed the law enforcement forces to take the necessary action regarding the arrest warrant against him.

I MEET WITH ALAATTİN KÖSELER COUNTLESS TIMES

Witness Duran Bülbül, in his statement via SEGBİS, stated that he has been working in the state for 47 years and has been working on public tenders, and said, “I used to answer the questions of spending officials about tenders in all public institutions. I used to provide consultancy to the questions asked to me about the work I did for Beykoz Municipality. I did not have any guidance regarding tenders.” Stating that he gave two written statements when he was called by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Bülbül said, “The questions asked were recorded in the minutes. I stated what I heard about Veli Gümüş, but I did not witness bilateral relations. I met with the mayor countless times. Alaattin Köseler did not speak to me about the tenders. Veli Gümüş and Metin Ülgey did not give any instructions to me or any other employee regarding the tenders.” When the Public Prosecutor asked about the two meetings that the detained defendant Fidan Gül mentioned during the investigation phase, Bülbül said, “We had two meetings. We discussed the circular prepared on how municipal cooperation will be carried out.”

BASED ON WHAT I TOLD, WHAT I SEEN AND HEARED

Witness Ömercan EA’s statement given to the Public Prosecutor’s Office during the investigation phase was read at the hearing. In his statement in court, Altay said, “What I said is based on what I saw and heard. I worked with Mr. Orkun within the municipality. I went to the prosecutor’s office to testify of my own free will. I did not know the technical part. Fidan Gül did not give me any instructions.”

THE MAYOR DID NOT GIVE DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS

Witness Ulughan U. stated that he started working at Beykoz Municipality in November 2014 and is still working. “I first worked in the Information Technology Unit and then worked in the Support Services Directorate. While I was working in the Support Services Directorate, Murat Gedik, Nihat Mutlu and Yıldız Güneş were in the unit. My duty was as a technical personnel. I would handle technical works such as malfunctions that occurred within the building. Our superiors made the decisions regarding these works. We did not deal directly with the companies. Yıldız Güneş gave instructions to take action regarding the ADL company. I cannot take action on my own. In November 2024, Sports Supports, without my own request. “I was transferred to the Department. The mayor did not give me direct instructions,” he said.

COMPANIES WERE NOT COMING DUE TO THEIR RECEIVABLES

Witness Eyüp Halit Bayazıt said that Duran Bülbül took office in May and took over some tasks, and Veli Gümüş was appointed. Stating that the Support Services Directorate was divided into two at the beginning of June, Bayazıt said, “I am an industry person. The previous mayor took 4 large restaurants, coffee shops and service points into the municipality. Even to buy parsley, a tender had to be made. It was decided to remove these businesses from the municipality and transfer them to the municipality’s company. The cold storage would always break down. I left there and returned to Ankara. I also left the actual management and assistant position as of the beginning of June. Duran Bülbül had the authority to direct and was helping. Is it true? “I don’t know if he was doing it wrong or not. They even buy parsley by tender. About 6 months before the elections, the old administration bought the businesses from the municipality and incorporated them into the municipality. The cold storage facility was broken in May, but this person could not come because they could not receive the payments. I saw Uğur İnci when there was a chimney fire and I thought he was a technician. The companies have huge amounts of receivables from the past period,” he said.

EXPERT REPORT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE FILE

Speaking about the expert report in question, the president of the court stated that they wanted a report to be prepared to make concrete calculations regarding the damage and said, “1 professor and 2 Court of Accounts auditors were appointed. Our expert friend pretended to be a prosecutor and the report was presented as if it were a prosecutor’s indictment. We will not trust this report. We took the file back and will not give it to that committee again.” he said. The public prosecutor, who was asked for his opinion, requested that the detention of the detained defendants be continued.

I CAME OF MY OWN WILL, I HAVE NO DOUBT OF ESCAPE

Speaking, the defendant Uğur İnci stated that the arrest warrant came 2 days after the release decision, and that in the meantime they learned that his wife had cancer, and said, “The arrest came again 2 days after the last release decision. My wife had a disease, we learned that she had cancer, and she was receiving treatment for it. I took care of our 11-year-old child. I came here of my own free will, there is no such thing as running away. I was already at home during this process. I also brought the reports. I have been working with Beykoz municipality for a long time. I have been doing technical work for about 10 years. I work in many units of the municipality.” “I worked as a solution partner, but since the management was new, they did not want to work with us at first. The salary I will receive is a legacy from the old management,” he said.

I DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO HARM MY STATE

Detained defendant Havva Dindar stated that an arrest warrant was issued for her after she was released in the previous hearing, and that she surrendered after the decision. She said, “She has been in prison for 1 year, and she and her family have been seriously victimized. I have no intention of escaping. I have not done anything to harm my state.”

TOTAL DURATION OF MY DETENTION IS 356 DAYS

Detained defendant Alaattin Köseler stated that he was taken into custody on February 27, 2025, arrested on March 3, and suspended from duty on March 4, “The trial started after 188 days. I was released during the 3-day court process, I was arrested one day later. I am here after 166 days. The total duration of my detention is 356 days as of today. I have not made any payment without a completed file. It is moral for me to declare my innocence to the people of Beykoz.” “It imposes a heavy burden. There is no evidence of financial benefit sharing in the file. I served as a son of Beykoz for 11 months and did not pay a single penny to the state.” he said

I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ILLEGAL BUSINESS

Detained defendant Veli Gümüş said, “Everything I said in the first court is true. I stand behind my statements. I do not accept the accusations made against me. When I was released, when I was outside with my wife, law enforcement officers called from the Financial Branch and said, there is a search about you, you need to help us. The pain in my wife’s eyes was heavy, sir. I went home, helped the law enforcement officers and surrendered. I was not involved in anything illegal. I demand my release and trial without arrest.”

THE CASE WAS POSTPONED

Announcing its interim decision, the court ruled that the detained defendants continue to be detained. The committee decided to send the file to the expert again and postponed the hearing to April 28 to correct the deficiencies.