The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and several others on espionage charges.

According to Habertürk, the case also involves İmamoğlu’s former campaign manager Nejat Özkan and Tele 1 TV’s editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ.

On the morning of October 24, searches were conducted at Tele 1’s offices, and Yanardağ was arrested. Searches and seizures were also carried out at his residence. Based on previously obtained materials, the investigation alleges that İmamoğlu, Özkan, and Yanardağ are guilty of espionage for foreign countries and creating a criminal organization for financial gain.

The investigation materials reportedly contain military secrets and photographs of foreign passports, according to A Haber. İmamoğlu, currently in prison on corruption charges, will be questioned as part of the new investigation.