A Turkish prosecutor has demanded more than 2,000 years in prison for Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition mayor of Istanbul, accusing him of leading a vast corruption network that has cost the state 160 billion liras in losses. The indictment, with more than 4,000 pages and 402 suspects, portrays Imamoglu as the leader of a criminal organization involved in bribery, fraud and tender rigging.
The prosecution has also asked a higher court to shut down the Republican People's Party (CHP), claiming it was illegally financed.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called the case completely political, saying it aimed to hinder the opposition and Turkish democracy. The government denies accusations of political motivation and insists that the courts are independent.
Analysts warn that the case could have major political consequences, including the possibility of the government taking control of Istanbul's municipality, deepening polarization and doubts about the independence of the judiciary in Turkey.
