(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government is “closely following” the arrest on Wednesday of Istabul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid a reported probe into alleged graft and terror links.
“We are closely following what is happening, but I am not familiar with the judicial case,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani commented.
“We hope that everything can be revealed and that the utmost calm will prevail,” Tajani added.
Imamoglu’s arrest came ust days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate. A member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), Imamoglu is seen as one of Erdogan’s strongest political rivals
Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a “criminal organisation leader suspect”.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors also issued warrants for 100 other people and the Istanbul governor’s office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city.
“The will of the people cannot be silenced,” Imamoglu said online.
