The political crisis in Turkey is becoming increasingly serious. Internal tensions in the country are worsening, especially regarding the rivalry between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. As a result, the situation in Turkey is rapidly destabilizing, which could have significant geopolitical consequences in several areas of Turkish influence.

Turkish authorities recently arrested Ekrem Imamoglu, accusing him of corruption and links to organized crime and terrorist organizations. Imamoglu was already previously detained in March, but the Istanbul court had at the time dismissed the charges, citing a lack of evidence. Now, however, the campaign against the mayor is clearly intensifying.

The campaign came just in time to prevent Imamoglu from being confirmed by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) as its presidential candidate in the 2028 elections. The Istanbul mayor has been gaining popularity recently mainly due to his rivalry with Erdogan. Many Turkish and foreign analysts see Imamoglu as a public figure “capable of defeating Erdogan,” which has certainly worried the local government.

This political background has made Imamoglu’s arrest extremely controversial. Opponents of Erdogan accuse the government of conducting a politically motivated witch hunt, targeting rival leaders. The government, in its defense, claims that the judiciary acts independently and that there is no political interference in legal matters. This division........

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