28 April Briefing
CHP presidential candidate and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu formally entered allegations of torture and ill-treatment into the Silivri court record at the "Imamoglu Criminal Organization" hearing, telling the court he and colleagues went five days without food and water following their March 19, 2025 detention and that mistreatment is "still being carried out." Turkish authorities detained 39 people in Istanbul and Kocaeli on April 28 ahead of
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Imamoglu enters torture allegations into Silivri court record at hearing of CHP presidential bid case
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the CHP's presidential candidate, formally entered allegations of torture and ill-treatment into the court record at the April 28 Silivri hearing in the "Ekrem Imamoglu Criminal Organization" case. He told the court he and his colleagues went five days without food and water following their March 19, 2025 detention, said the mistreatment had become "routine" and was "still being carried out", and accused prosecutor Cahit Cihat Sari -- since promoted by Justice Minister Akin Gurlek to head the ministry's Personnel Department -- of using profane and insulting language during a basement hearing at Caglayan Courthouse. Cooperating witness contractor Adem Soytekin testified the same day that an unnamed politician in Ankara had called Sari on his behalf early in the case, and that he had used a separate unnamed source to support his claim that adviser Murat Ongun controlled 80 percent of cash flow at Medya A.S.
Turkish intelligence demands prosecution of journalist over Syria jihadist ties expose
Turkey's MIT intelligence agency has secretly demanded the prosecution of Sweden-based Turkish journalist Abdullah Bozkurt for an article exposing its covert ties to jihadist groups in Syria, triggering a criminal investigation and trial in absentia.
Turkey arrests nearly 40 people in Istanbul ahead of May Day
Turkish authorities arrested nearly 40 people in Istanbul on Tuesday, including journalists, trade unionists and opposition figures, ahead of International Workers' Day on 1 May. Arrest and search warrants were issued against 62 people, with prosecutors deeming 46 of them "likely to carry out attacks."
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Every other event tracked in Turkey, with a one-line preview.
tr30Turkish miners win labor rights struggle after 9-day protest in Ankara
Miners from Doruk Madencilik in Eskişehir, Turkey, successfully secured their unpaid wages and social insurance premiums after a nine-day protest in Ankara, including a 190 km march and a sit-in. The breakthrough came after Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi intervened, leading to a meeting with company owner Sebahattin Yıldız and ministry officials. The miners' victory is seen as a significant example for other workers facing similar issues in Turkey.
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Turkish miners win labor rights struggle after 9-day protest in Ankara
Miners from Doruk Madencilik in Eskişehir, Turkey, successfully secured their unpaid wages and social insurance premiums after a nine-day protest in Ankara, including a 190 km march and a sit-in. The breakthrough came after Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi intervened, leading to a meeting with company owner Sebahattin Yıldız and ministry officials. The miners' victory is seen as a significant example for other workers facing similar issues in Turkey.
Miners from Doruk Madencilik in Eskişehir, Turkey, successfully secured their unpaid wages and social insurance premiums after a nine-day protest in Ankara, including a 190 km march and a sit-in. The breakthrough came after Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi intervened, leading to a meeting with company owner Sebahattin Yıldız and ministry officials. The miners' victory is seen as a significant example for other workers facing similar issues in Turkey.
tr28Turkish Miners' Hunger Strike in Ankara Enters Second Week Amid Police Crackdown
Turkish miners on the 8th day of a hunger strike in Ankara were met with police pepper spray as they attempted to march to the Ministry of Energy. The miners demand unpaid wages, compensation, and union rights. The protest began in Eskişehir and escalated after authorities blocked a planned march in the capital.
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Turkish Miners' Hunger Strike in Ankara Enters Second Week Amid Police Crackdown
Turkish miners on the 8th day of a hunger strike in Ankara were met with police pepper spray as they attempted to march to the Ministry of Energy. The miners demand unpaid wages, compensation, and union rights. The protest began in Eskişehir and escalated after authorities blocked a planned march in the capital.
Turkish miners on the 8th day of a hunger strike in Ankara were met with police pepper spray as they attempted to march to the Ministry of Energy. The miners demand unpaid wages, compensation, and union rights. The protest began in Eskişehir and escalated after authorities blocked a planned march in the capital.
tr18Turkish minister warns of critical mineral concentration and protectionism risks
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, speaking at the OECD Critical Minerals Forum in Istanbul, warned that geographic concentration of critical minerals and rising protectionism threaten global economic security. He highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and called for diversification and circular economy investment.
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Turkish minister warns of critical mineral concentration and protectionism risks
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, speaking at the OECD Critical Minerals Forum in Istanbul, warned that geographic concentration of critical minerals and rising protectionism threaten global economic security. He highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and called for diversification and circular economy investment.
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, speaking at the OECD Critical Minerals Forum in Istanbul, warned that geographic concentration of critical minerals and rising protectionism threaten global economic security. He highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and called for diversification and circular economy investment.
tr15Türkiye and Armenia stress urgency of reopening Kars-Gyumri railway
The Türkiye-Armenia Joint Working Group met in Kars on April 28, 2026, to discuss rehabilitating and operationalizing the Kars-Gyumri railway. Both sides emphasized the need to reopen the line as soon as possible to enhance regional transport connectivity, in line with the normalization process between the two countries. The European Union welcomed the meeting, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' office issuing a statement encouraging full normalization between Armenia and Türkiye and noting that the sustained momentum reflects broader positive regional dynamics essential for lasting peace and stability. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to connectivity through its Global Gateway strategy and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, with both countries described as key partners.
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Türkiye and Armenia stress urgency of reopening Kars-Gyumri railway
The Türkiye-Armenia Joint Working Group met in Kars on April 28, 2026, to discuss rehabilitating and operationalizing the Kars-Gyumri railway. Both sides emphasized the need to reopen the line as soon as possible to enhance regional transport connectivity, in line with the normalization process between the two countries. The European Union welcomed the meeting, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' office issuing a statement encouraging full normalization between Armenia and Türkiye and noting that the sustained momentum reflects broader positive regional dynamics essential for lasting peace and stability. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to connectivity through its Global Gateway strategy and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, with both countries described as key partners.
The Türkiye-Armenia Joint Working Group met in Kars on April 28, 2026, to discuss rehabilitating and operationalizing the Kars-Gyumri railway. Both sides emphasized the need to reopen the line as soon as possible to enhance regional transport connectivity, in line with the normalization process between the two countries. The European Union welcomed the meeting, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' office issuing a statement encouraging full normalization between Armenia and Türkiye and noting that the sustained momentum reflects broader positive regional dynamics essential for lasting peace and stability. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to connectivity through its Global Gateway strategy and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, with both countries described as key partners.
tr8Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan attends Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the 11th Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia, representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On the sidelines, he met with Borjana Kristo, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The summit focuses on regional connectivity and economic integration among 12 EU member states.
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Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan attends Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the 11th Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia, representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On the sidelines, he met with Borjana Kristo, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The summit focuses on regional connectivity and economic integration among 12 EU member states.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the 11th Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia, representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On the sidelines, he met with Borjana Kristo, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The summit focuses on regional connectivity and economic integration among 12 EU member states.