Thousands of people demonstrated last night in Istanbul against the arrest and removal of the city's former mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which happened 100 days ago, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
In front of the city administration building, they chanted slogans such as "Against fascism, shoulder to shoulder" and "President Imamoglu". The rally was called by his party - the Republican People's Party.
The popular politician and promising rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was arrested and removed from office on March 23.
Many other people from his entourage and party were detained in several waves of arrests. However, his Republican People's Party nominated him as its presidential candidate. The next regular presidential elections are scheduled for 2028.
The protest coincided with another significant blow to Imamoglu's party - over 100 people were arrested in Izmir in corruption investigations.
The Republican People's Party believes it is a victim of a judicial system manipulated by the government. However, President Erdogan has repeatedly assured the independence of the judiciary.
The Republican People's Party, which is currently the largest opposition party in Turkey, emerged victorious in the latest local elections. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) came in second place in a nationwide vote for the first time in its history, DPA recalls.
/SG/
Source: www.bta.bg