Türkiye arrests three more officials in ongoing investigation into Istanbul mayor UPDATED

The Turkish court has issued arrest warrants for three more officials involved in the ongoing investigation into Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, who faces accusations of corruption and supporting terrorist groups.

Those arrested include Şişli district head Resul Emrah Şahan, Istanbul's deputy secretary general Mahir Polat, and director of the Reform Institute Mehmet Ali Çalışkan, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The three officials are accused of aiding an armed terrorist organisation.

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Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has said that 323 individuals were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the staff of Istanbul metropolitan municipality. 

The operation, which took place late on the evening of March 22, is part of broader efforts to uncover potential misconduct within the municipality, Caliber.Az reports, citing the minister’s message on X.

Bu gece İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi soruşturmasıyla ilgili eylemlerde 323 şüpheli gözaltına alındı.

Kamu düzenine zarar veren hiçbir girişime izin verilmeyecek!#TürkiyeninHuzuru🇹🇷

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) March 23, 2025

Yerlikaya emphasised that authorities are committed to maintaining public order and will not tolerate any actions that threaten it. 

"Tonight, during operations related to the investigation in the Istanbul municipality, 323 suspects were arrested. Any actions that disrupt public order will not be tolerated," Yerlikaya wrote.

Demonstrators gathered in cities across Türkiye on the night of March 21, defying protest bans to rally against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu. In Istanbul, hundreds of thousands assembled outside City Hall, while thousands more took to the streets in other provinces, including the capital, Ankara, and the Aegean coastal city of Izmir. Imamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential contender, was detained on March 19 on charges related to terrorism and corruption. His arrest has sparked widespread protests, with his supporters and opposition groups alleging political motives behind the case.

By Naila Huseynova