Ozgur Ozel։ "Imamoglu is in prison on the one hand and on the way to the presidency on the other"

Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party has nominated suspended and jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.

A total of 15 million Turkish citizens, nearly a quarter of the country's registered voters, took part in the party's primaries. Of those, 13.2 million voted in favor of Imamoglu.

Republican People's Party President Ozgur Ozel called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold early presidential elections and fight Ekrem Imamoglu.

That same day, tens of thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside Istanbul City Hall to protest what they said was the politically motivated prosecution of Erdogan's rival.

"Imamoglu is in prison on the one hand and on the way to the presidency on the other," AP quoted Ozel as saying during the rally.

Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 on charges of leading a criminal organization, corruption and, at the same time, terrorism. Imamoglu has denied the charges against him.