For the third consecutive day, despite the renewed ban on gatherings issued today by the General Prosecutor’s Office, thousands of protesters remain outside Istanbul’s City Hall.

Alongside members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and student political organizations, labor unions have also shown a strong presence. At the same time, security forces have been reinforced, with 5,000 additional police officers arriving from other provinces of Turkey to prevent any further escalation of tensions, especially ahead of the crucial weekend.

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, CHP, stated that 300,000 protesters gathered in Istanbul tonight after breaking their Ramadan fast to support the city’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Sources close to İmamoğlu indicate that the mayor, now in his third day of detention, is expected to appear before an investigating judge late tomorrow night, who will decide on his transfer to a detention center in Istanbul.

These sources suggest that Erdoğan aims to avoid provoking İmamoğlu’s supporters while also preventing further unrest. However, analysts in Turkey believe that if judicial authorities move forward with this action, the coming days and the entire following week will be extremely challenging.

According to a judicial document obtained by Reuters, Ekrem İmamoğlu has denied the corruption charges brought against him.

Earlier today, following Friday prayers, President Erdoğan emphasized that “problems are not solved in the streets, and the country was not built in the streets.” His statement was immediately countered by CHP leader Özel, who openly accused the government of orchestrating not only İmamoğlu’s imprisonment but also a plan to replace him with a pro-Erdoğan appointee as mayor.

Demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara continue unabated, despite government restrictions. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has once again called for mass gatherings outside Istanbul’s City Hall, drawing thousands of people into the streets.

Ekrem İmamoğlu remains in custody for the third consecutive day. Judicial authorities have extended his detention, citing ongoing investigations and new evidence.

Tensions in Turkey’s two largest cities are expected to escalate further as Sunday approaches. That day is anticipated to see the country’s largest demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

According to the indictment, even sources within the CHP admit that Istanbul’s mayor is “one step away from prison.” The key question now is how quickly and in what manner the judiciary will push forward with his trial.

İmamoğlu is already becoming the face of the main opposition’s battle against Erdoğan and the ruling AKP. He was a strong contender for the opposition’s presidential nomination. However, his legal troubles create major challenges for the party, which must ensure that someone outside the prison system can effectively represent its policies.

İmamoğlu will clearly be unable to do so, and it remains uncertain whether Ankara’s Mayor Mansur Yavaş can step into the role. Yavaş is widely recognized in Turkish society and even outperforms İmamoğlu in some polls as the most suitable future president.

However, another looming question is whether Yavaş himself could eventually face legal troubles. Given the current political climate, no opposition figure can feel completely secure. Erdoğan’s administration has spent years instilling fear not only among the Turkish public but also among political rivals of the AKP and the Turkish president.

Erdoğan’s High-Stakes Gamble

This time, however, Erdoğan himself is also taking a significant risk—the biggest in years.

Even his political adversaries acknowledge his remarkable instincts and strategic planning abilities. Yet, with İmamoğlu’s arrest, he is now forced to leave several critical issues in limbo.

The turmoil sparked by the detention of Istanbul’s mayor is already having an impact, the full extent of which remains unpredictable.

In the coming months, Erdoğan will need to keep his political apparatus on high alert. More importantly, he must find a way to recover in the polls. The challenge is immense, but Erdoğan has repeatedly demonstrated his skill in navigating political crises—especially in this domain.