Mass protests erupted in Turkey after the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the demonstrations in Antalya, a protester dressed as Pikachu grabbed attention by outrunning the police.

As officers tried to break up the crowd using water cannons, the man in the Pokemon costume was spotted running away, managing to avoid arrest in the early hours of March 27. Officials say nearly 2,000 people have been arrested since the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Erdogan's main rival, last week in a corruption case.

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A viral video of a protester in a Pikachu costume fleeing from police sparked reactions, including a post from Imamoglu’s party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which wrote on X: “Even Pikachu is affected by pepper spray.”

Despite widespread protests across Turkey against the arrests of Imamoglu and 20 others, including his advisor, the government dismissed international criticism as “prejudiced.” Imamoglu, who was leading in some polls against Erdogan, was arrested on Sunday after a court ordered his detention while he awaits trial on corruption charges.

Ekrem Imamoglu shook Turkey’s ruling party in 2019 when he won the Istanbul mayoral election, breaking President Erdogan’s 25-year control over the city. The government claimed the election was unfair and called for a re-vote, but Imamoglu won again, proving his strong public support.

Now, years later, he is facing corruption charges and accusations of “supporting a terrorist group.” Many see this as a political move to weaken Erdogan’s biggest rival before the 2028 presidential election. 
Imamoglu’s arrest has led to large protests across Turkey and criticism from around the world, with many saying it is an attempt to silence opposition voices and strengthen the ruling party’s grip on power.

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