ISTANBUL: Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday charged Istanbul’s jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu with 142 offenses that could carry a penalty of hundreds of year in prison, court documents showed.
The nearly 4,000-page indictment charges the popular opposition mayor, who was arrested on March 19, with offenses including running a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, extortion and tender rigging.
The arrest of Imamoglu, the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompted outrage from the main opposition CHP party and widespread demonstrations in Turkiye’s worst bout of street unrest since 2013.
According to the indictment, Imamoglu was allegedly at the head of a sprawling crime network over which he exerted his influence “like an octopus.”
State news agency Anadolu said prosecutors were asking for a prison sentence that could amount to up to 2,430 years behind bars.
Prosecutor files 142 charges against Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan critic: indictment
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Prosecutor files 142 charges against Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan critic: indictment
- The arrest of Imamoglu prompted outrage from the main opposition CHP party and widespread demonstrations
- According to the indictment, Imamoglu was allegedly at the head of a sprawling crime network
Syrian government takes over Qamishli airport security in Hasaka
- Qamishli airport has been out of service for the past 15 years and was the only major airport under SDF control
- The Ministry of Interior is conducting the handover process to restore full state authority over vital facilities
LONDON: Syrian authorities have taken over security responsibilities at Qamishli airport in Hasaka Province, northeastern Syrian Arab Republic, as part of the implementation of the agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Directorate of Airport and Border Security, is conducting the handover process on Sunday to restore full state authority over vital facilities and enhance security procedures at airports and border crossings, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Qamishli airport has been out of service for the past 15 years and was the only major airport under SDF control.
In January, the Syrian army entered Hasakah and deployed throughout the Jazira region to secure it under an agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF.
Under the agreement, both the Syrian government and the SDF agreed to a ceasefire and a phased integration of military and administrative structures. It also includes deploying government security forces and transferring control of civil institutions and border areas to the state, the SANA added.
