New Delhi:
In the midst of the smoke, water cannons and chaos of the massive protests of Turkey, a flash of yellow shot through the streets of Antalya. It was not a protest banner or a flare – it was Pikachu.
A demonstrator – dressed in a full -body costume of the Pokemon – sprinted through the streets on Thursday, causing the riot police to argue while clashes burst over the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu. Videos of the costumed figure who flee in addition to protesters have become viral on social media.
????????? #Breaking | Pikachu was seen on the running of the police during anti-drill protests in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/nhtgv7fqhe
– Universal News (@universalnewsx) March 27, 2025
Türkiye! ?????????????pic.twitter.com/nacryo8lvl
– Alican Demirdağ (@alicandemirdag) March 27, 2025
An X user noticed: “I am not too familiar with Turkish politics, but I am on the side of Pikachu.”
I am not so familiar with Turkish politics, but I am on which side Pikachu is on the side.
– Monarch (@x_Monarch_xx) March 27, 2025
Another wrote: “Fortunately he looks.”
Fortunately he looks .. pic.twitter.com/6tvowt3fye
– Malik Ejder (@Malikejder47) March 27, 2025
“I had no idea that Pikachu could run so fast,” was a comment.
I had no idea that Pikachu could run so quickly. ????
– 佐倉 愛子 愛子 愛子 愛子 ????????? (@Sakura_Datteba) March 27, 2025
Why Turkey protests
Thousands protested after authorities of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, an important rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, imprisoned charges of corruption. His supporters say that the arrest is politically motivated and accuse the government of using the judiciary to eliminate opposition prior to the 2028 elections.
The government claims that the courts act independently, but critics claim that the case depends on weak evidence and anonymous testimonies, Associated Press reported.
While demonstrations spread over Turkey, security forces in Ankara, Istanbul and Antalya are destroyed. Riot Police has fired water cannons, pepper spray and plastic pellets to break crowds. Students from the Technical University of the Middle East tried to make a public explanation, but were confronted with tear gas and stock costs.
At the end of Thursday, Mr. Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was held under unknown charges. The mayor placed a furious answer to X and called it a “legal coup”.
“The evil that a handful of incompetent people inflict our country is growing. Leave my lawyer free immediately,” wrote Mr. Imamoglu.
Yasakçı Akılda ne Yalan Biter ne de Ontira. Bu Sefer de Uyduruk Gerekçelerle Avukatım Mehmet Pehlivan Gözaltına Alındı. Demokrasi Darbesi Yaptıkları Yetmiyormuş Gibi BU Darbenin MAIBERWAREWE as Kendilerini Savunmasına da Tahammmül Edemiyyorlar. Demokrasi Darbesine Hukuk Darbesini de …
– Ekrem ●Mamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) March 27, 2025
Minister of the Interior Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that nearly 1,900 protesters had been held, with more than 260 imprisoned pending the process, according to Reuters.
Rights groups accused the police of the use of excessive violence and insisted on the government to allow peaceful protests. Western leaders called the performance a sign of democratic decline.
When asked for the timing of Mr Imamoglu's arrest – just a few days before he was expected to be called the CHP presidential candidate before 2028 – said Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc that the judiciary only deals with criminal reports. He insisted that being a chosen officer does not give immunity.
A day before his arrest, a university withdrew the diploma of Mr Imamoglu, a requirement for presidential candidates.
