Video: Turkish officials detain key Erdogan rival, Istanbul mayor
Turkish officials have detained Ekrem Imamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, and a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The detainment comes as part of corruption and terrorism investigations. In a video posted on X, the mayor said he is up against 'huge bullying.'
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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Erdoğan's AKP takes over Istanbul district from opposition CHP
A candidate of Turkey's ruling AKP has taken over as mayor of Istanbul's Gaziosmanpaşa district after the previous incumbent from the opposition CHP was arrested, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday. The candidate from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AKP was voted in with the support of the ultra-nationalist MHP. The previous Gaziosmanpaşa district mayor was arrested a week ago, along with four other CHP district mayors in Istanbul and the city of Adana in the south. The mayors have been accused of corruption and dismissed from office. The CHP has termed the arrests a coup. Gaziosmanpaşa is the fourth district that the CHP, Turkey's largest opposition party, has lost since the 2023 local elections, in which Erdoğan's AKP came second for the first time in its history. While observers see political manoeuvring behind the arrests and dismissals, the AKP insists that the Turkish judiciary is politically independent. To date, 12 CHP mayors have been dismissed from office. Appointments in some of their districts have yet to be made, while administrators seen as close to the government have been appointed in three. In six districts, deputies from the same party have been elected, as in the case of Istanbul's dismissed mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested in March. İmamoğlu is seen as Erdoğan's strongest rival.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Turkish far-right politician accused of inciting hatred goes on trial
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish far-right politician accused of inciting public hatred and hostility went on trial Wednesday in a case critics view as an effort to suppress opposition to the president. Umit Ozdag, the leader of Turkey's Victory Party, was detained in January over accusations he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with comments he made during a party meeting in Antalya. A day later Ozdag was formally arrested and charged with inciting hatred against migrants. He was blamed for last year's anti-Syrian refugee riots in the central Turkish province of Kayseri last year, during which hundreds of homes and businesses were attacked. Prosecutors have presented a series of posts from Ozdag's social media as evidence against him. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty. Ozdag, a 64-year-old former academic, is an outspoken critic of Turkey's refugee policies and has previously called for the repatriation of millions of Syrian refugees. Ozdag acknowledged advocating the return of refugees at the opening hearing of his trial at a prison complex on the outskirts of Istanbul. He denied he had incited for violence against them and told the court he had worked to calm tensions in Kayseri. In his defense statement, Ozdag maintained that his imprisonment was politically motivated and aimed at silencing him over his criticism of the government's recent effort to end a decades-long conflict with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. 'The reason why I am here ... is because I criticized the talks held with the PKK terrorist organization's chief,' Ozdag said. The Victory Party strongly opposes any concessions to the PKK which Turkey, along with many Western states including the United States, Britain and the European Union, considers a terrorist organization. The conflict with the PKK has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths since the 1980s. When the trial opened Wednesday, Ozdag's lawyers requested more time to prepare, and the proceedings were adjourned until Tuesday. The politician's trial comes amid a widespread crackdown on the opposition to Erdogan's Justice and Development Party. Officials from municipalities controlled by the main opposition — the Republican People's Party, or CHP — have faced waves of arrests this year. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained in March over allegations of corruption. Many people in Turkey consider the cases to be politically driven, according to opinion polls. However, Erdogan's government insists the courts are impartial and free from political involvement. Imamoglu is widely viewed as the main challenger to Erdogan's two-decade rule and is the CHP's candidate for the next presidential election. The election is due in 2028 but could be held earlier.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Ukrainian soldier branded with ‘Glory to Russia' burned on his skin while in Russian captivity
A Ukrainian soldier had the words 'Glory to Russia' branded on him while he was held in Russian captivity, according to a gruesome photo. The unidentified soldier, one of those recently released in a huge prisoner swap between the warring nations, was seen with scars and stitches from his chest to his abdomen in the photos released online Monday and authenticated by Ukrainian intelligence. It shows the words 'Glory to Russia' branded in Russian on the right side of his wounded stomach. Advertisement The picture was taken by a doctor who examined the soldier after he was returned from captivity as part of a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian outlet Hromadske reported. 3 A Ukrainian soldier reportedly had the words 'Glory to Russia' burned on his skin while in Russian captivity. 'Unfortunately, this is a real photo,' Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov told the publication. Advertisement 'During an examination at one of the regional centers where the guys are undergoing rehabilitation, the doctor simply couldn't stand it, took a picture of it and posted it online. 'This is evidence of what our defenders are going through in captivity,' Yusov said. Around 90% of returned Ukrainian captives surveyed claimed that they were neglected in terms of food and medical care by the Russians, Yusov claimed, adding that many of the soldiers were suffering from critical weight loss. 3 Ukraine and Russia carried out the latest round of prisoner swaps this week. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 'This is visually very visible and there is a difference in the state in which the occupiers return to Russia and the state in which the Ukrainian defenders return,' he said. On Monday, Ukraine and Russia carried out the first round in the latest prisoner swap, exchanging soldiers under the age of 25. 3 Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The exchange of more than 1,200 prisoners of war each, which would also include gravely wounded soldiers, was a days-long process, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Advertisement This was part of an agreement made between Moscow and Kyiv during the latest round of peace talks between the two countries held in the Turkish city of Istanbul on June 2. A second group of POWs was exchanged on Tuesday, Ukrainian media reported.
