Tension in Turkey: Details of Ongoing Events

The Turkish presidential administration has denied reports of an alleged ban on entry and exit amid protests supporting Istanbul's detained mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's administration also refuted claims that it had instructed television channels to interrupt live broadcasts due to the protests surrounding İmamoğlu’s detention.

In his first comments regarding the protests in Turkey, Erdoğan stated that the opposition's issues are not the country's problems. The police are forcibly dispersing protests using rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons. Authorities have already banned rallies in three major cities: Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, urging citizens to avoid “unauthorized actions” until at least March 25.

Following protests in support of İmamoğlu, who was arrested on Saturday, more than 320 people were detained, with reports of sulfuric acid being poured on one police officer, according to the country’s security chief on social media.

On Wednesday, Istanbul's chief prosecutor announced İmamoğlu's arrest on charges related to corruption, bribery, and aiding terrorist activities. The opposition figure declared that he “does not intend to surrender” under government pressure. His arrest has triggered mass protests.

On Saturday, the politician spent five hours giving testimony at the Çaglayan courthouse. According to A Haber television, he denied the allegations of connections with terrorist organizations and criticized the methods of his arrest. “Entry and exit from Istanbul is banned. This claim contains manipulation,” the statement from the Turkish presidential administration’s Directorate of Communications said.

The restrictions apply only to specific individuals and vehicles, according to the document. Earlier, President Erdoğan commented on the situation surrounding İmamoğlu's arrest, stating that it included attempts at political pressure from the opposition against the police and the judiciary. He said the government does not have time for “name-calling” with the opposition, being busy solving the country's issues.

Turkey's Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç also called for no street protests after İmamoğlu's arrest, noting that the situation has nothing to do with Erdoğan.

The Turkish presidential administration has mentioned “groundless slander” regarding Erdoğan in the context of İmamoğlu's arrest, which is viewed as the main rival to the current leader in the upcoming snap presidential elections. The status of Istanbul's mayor has also been confirmed on Wednesday by Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's largest opposition party, the Republican People's Party, who named İmamoğlu as the party's primary candidate for the elections.