Pikachu joins protests: Turkey in turmoil over mayor's arrest
In Ankara, ongoing clashes continue between police and protesters who oppose the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The police have used pepper spray, water cannons, and rubber bullets. Recordings of the protests are available online, and in one of them, there's a surprising image—a person dressed as Pikachu fleeing from the authorities.
Pikachu is one of the most prominent characters in the Pokémon series, which gained immense popularity two decades ago. The cartoon's popularity has not waned, as shown by the daring individual who wore the yellow Pokémon costume during the protest in Turkey.
In one recording, protesters are seen running from the pursuing police. Among the crowd, one figure stands out—the person in the Pikachu costume.
Protests in Turkey: Authorities arrest Imamoglu
For the past week, Turkey has been witnessing intense protests following the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. On Thursday morning, in Ankara, clashes occurred between protesters and security forces. The police used pepper spray, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
At the gates of Ankara Polytechnic, students gathered with the intention of reading their statement and marching through the city streets. However, their plans were disrupted by police intervention, prompting the young people to build a barricade from trash containers in self-defense.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that over the past week, 1,418 people have been detained in connection with the protests. These demonstrations, mainly organized by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), are occurring in Turkey's largest cities, with hundreds of thousands participating.
Controversies surrounding Imamoglu
Ekrem Imamoglu was detained on March 19 on charges of corruption and ties to a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, in Sunday's primary elections, the CHP selected him as their candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. Imamoglu is considered the main rival to the current Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The authorities temporarily suspended Imamoglu from his mayoral duties, causing a wave of dissatisfaction among his supporters. Protests that began in Istanbul quickly spread to other cities, including Ankara. The situation in Turkey remains tense, and the protests continue. The authorities have not provided an exact number of people detained during the latest clashes in Ankara.
