Balgarianovinite.com The trial of suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on charges of leading a criminal group and corruption opened in Silivri but was quickly adjourned after tensions erupted in the courtroom, TRT Haber said on Monday. More than 400 others are also on trial in the case.
Even before the court moved to the substance of the case, the presiding judge stopped the hearing because of a heated argument between him and Imamoglu, TRT Haber said.
One of Imamoglu’s lawyers criticized the judge for allowing the names of the defendants’ defence lawyers to be disclosed in the media, saying this could turn them into potential targets. MPs from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) who were in the courtroom also showed disapproval of the court panel’s conduct. Imamoglu then asked to address the court, but the presiding judge warned him that he could not stand up and speak whenever he wanted.
After the exchange, the judge suspended the hearing and ordered those present to leave the courtroom. They refused, and the judge then called a recess before the panel left.
“Didn’t you come here to judge us? You can’t just run away like that,” Imamoglu shouted to the judge.
Despite the court’s order, spectators, including CHP Chairperson Ozgur Ozel, did not leave the courtroom. All defendants, including Imamoglu, were taken out of the hall, ANKA News Agency said.
Among those in the courtroom were Imamoglu’s wife, senior CHP officials and relatives of the accused. Many representatives of the opposition CHP, as well as civil society groups, gathered in the area around the prison, the media said.
Security measures were visibly tightened.
According to the 3,739-page indictment, prosecutors said a group led by Imamoglu began operating during his tenure as mayor of Beylikduzu Municipality and expanded during his tenure as mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to 2,352 years for Imamoglu, who faces charges in connection with 142 separate acts, including “forming an organization for the purpose of committing crimes”, “concealing evidence of a crime”, “obstructing communications”, “damaging public property”, “bribery”, “publicly disseminating misleading information”, “extortion”, “fraud against public institutions”, “laundering assets derived from criminal activity” and “bid rigging”.
The hearings will be held four days a week.
Restrictions were imposed during the trial on both defence lawyers and people attending the hearing. No more than three lawyers per defendant will be allowed, and relatives of those in custody will have priority over others who want to follow the case in person.
A total of 25 journalists, five from foreign media and the rest from media in Turkiye, were allowed to cover the case. The use of audio and video recording equipment during court proceedings was banned.
Under a decision by the Silivri District Governor’s Office, all activities such as meetings and demonstrations, press conferences, the display of banners and placards, slogan chanting, setting up tents, opening stands, approaching the courtroom in clothing bearing inscriptions or symbols, and taking photographs and videos were banned within a radius of one kilometre, covering the area around the courtroom, the prison visitors’ car park and the prison complex fence line, until March 31, 2026.
Ekrem Imamoglu’s current political and legal situation began on March 18, 2025, when Istanbul University annulled his diploma, and it escalated the next day when he and other CHP figures were detained in investigations into corruption and alleged terrorism links, just before the opposition was due to nominate him for the presidency.
On March 23, he was placed in pre-trial detention on corruption charges; the CHP named him its presidential candidate the same day, and he was later temporarily removed from office and replaced by an interim mayor. His arrest then set off the largest protest wave in Turkiye since 2013. Courtroom Dispute Halts Opening Hearing in Suspended Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Trial 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-03-09 12:31:09 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law