"Une décision judiciaire majeure marque un tournant en Turquie, paralysant l’ensemble de l’opposition et signalant un basculement vers la dictature." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

"Face à l’Europe qui se durcit, Ankara multiplie les tactiques anti-isolement. Sans doctrine cohérente, la Turquie s’enlise dans une « zone liminale » aux portes de l’Occident." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

A group of PACE lawmakers demand "Magnitsky Sanctions" Over Osman Kavala’s Imprisonment. And an unprecedented joint letter by Turkey rapporteurs, mentioning jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, raises concerns on "the state of local democracy" in Turkey. open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"En trois décennies, elle a troqué l’élan d’un leadership démocratique contre l’illusion d’une “autonomie stratégique” devenue rhétorique d’isolement — la fin du pont entre l’Est et l’Ouest, le début d’une invisibilité assumée." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

Three expert observers sat down to discuss the key aspects of the talks between Ankara and Öcalan, and whether or not there are any prospects for a lasting resolution on the Kurdish issue. 👇 open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"Against the backdrop of a ‘process’ that bears no resemblance whatsoever to conflict resolution, Ankara’s Kurdish tangle once again strains the very fabric of its system.” @mediapartblogs.bsky.social @mediaparten.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

Turkey 2025 Report: "Accession negotiations with Türkiye have remained at a standstill since 2018. The EU’s serious concerns about the continued deterioration of democratic standards, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights were not addressed." enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...

A Deep-Rooted Crisis Unfolding Beyond a Single Scandal open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"By prolonging the pain, the judge’s ruling adds fuel to Turkey’s deepening crisis and leaves even more questions hanging." By @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"The AKP-MHP alliance is demonstrating for the world how to neutralize opposition through a potent cocktail of judicial abuse, psychological warfare, “carrots” and coercion." Update and analysis by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"Do the best-laid plans go awry? That question is once again looming over Syria’s transition agenda, entangling Ankara in a growing web of challenges." open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...

"L’idée : rassembler tous les partis sous la bannière d’une « Turquie sans terrorisme », afin de consolider un régime de plus en plus autocratique." Une analyse de @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

A Turkish archeologist said that the “Ani Kathedral” (Surp Asdvadzadzin), a prominent monument in the ancient city of Ani, and a symbol of Armenian identity, at the Turkish-Armenian border, will be reopened as a mosque, after restoration. www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/3511...

Arrest wave at CHP-run municipalities has widened today, confirming a massive purge of the main opposition party. The mayors of Antalya, Adana and Adıyaman have been taken into custody on corruption charges. Zeydan Karalar, Mayor of Adana: “Whoever is with impact will be silenced, for sure."

We are here, to serve the. public interest. Our social role is based firmly on remaining independent, with equal distance to all the power circles, no matter what the cost would be.

In a latest development, access to Leman’s internet site has been banned by the authorities. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Selon Tuncay Akgun, le rédacteur en chef du magazine, l’offensive judiciaire contre le magazine, bastion satirique de l’opposition lancé en 1991, est « incroyablement choquante, mais pas très surprenante ». « C’est un acte d’annihilation », a-t-il dénoncé. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...

As the news broke, several dozen angry protesters attacked a bar often frequented by LeMan staffers in downtown Istanbul, provoking angry scuffles with police, which quickly degenerated into clashes involving between 250 to 300 people, an AFP correspondent said. www.france24.com/en/live-news...

"Four days after its release, the image went viral on social media, sparking outrage. Hundreds of protesters marched down Istanbul’s main tourist avenue, chanting “Allahu Akbar”." www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

Having chaired the Socialist International (SI) meeting in Istanbul - where the delegates called President Erdoğan to release Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from prison - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Erdogan for a closed-door meeting, to discuss economic relations between Turkey and Spain.

Turkey set to join EU defense programs "Despite objections from Athens – and Nicosia – Turkey’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to move forward, as final decisions will be made by qualified majority voting rather than by unanimity." www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...

"With my friend Trump taking office, we reached a more open, more constructive, more sincere communication." www.reuters.com/business/med...

USA lifts CAATSA sanctions on Turkey? "President Donald Trump is leaning toward removing the restrictions that have for nearly five years obstructed the US-Turkey defense ties, a publicly stated goal of both governments, sources in Washington tell Kathimerini.” www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...

Here is the statement by the PKK, on its dissolution: ""At its extraordinary 12th Congress, the PKK declares that its struggle has dismantled the policies of denial, annihilation imposed on the Kurdish people; brought the Kurdish issue to a stage where it be addressed through democratic politics.+

Zafer Partisi Genel Başkanı Ümit Özdağ hakkında hazırlanan iddianamede "Zincirleme şekilde basın yoluyla halkı kin ve düşmanlığa tahrik" suçlamasıyla 7 yıl 10 ay 15 güne kadar hapis istendi.

Gov’t controlled Radio/TV regulator RTUK bans the opposition channel SozcuTV for 20 days from brosdcasts. BBC reporter Mark Lowen, covering the protests, is deported for “being a security threat”

"The European Union is set to keep pumping billions of euros into Turkey despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s sweeping crackdown on political opponents." Ankara is too important an ally to alienate, no matter what happens on the streets of Istanbul, politicians and officials tell POLITICO.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington today. On the agenda: The end of Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 advanced fighter program. Sanctions against Turkey, (CAATSA), lifted. Kurdish forces YPG in Syria eliminated. Gaza discussed.

BREAKING: Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is detained (pre-trial detention), to be sent to prison, probably Silivri (where hundreds of political prisoners, including Osman Kavala, are held). The detention ruling is based on the graft probe, reports say.

Turkey today.

Police blocks the lawyers who want enter the Courthouse.

The chief of Police in Istanbul has arrived at the Courthouse.

Elon Musk's social media platform X has suspended several accounts belonging to opposition figures in Turkey amid widespread civil unrest in the country. www.politico.eu/article/musk...

"Trump expressed an intent to finalize the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and is open to the idea of selling Turkey F-35 jets, if the two sides can come to an agreement that renders Turkey’s Russian S-400 system inoperable, two sources confirmed to Fox News." www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...

"Turkey is shifting its strategy toward Donald Trump, emphasizing potential economic and national security benefits for the US.

Huge arrest wave in early hours in Turkey: Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu and more than 100 people, among them his media representative and many journalists are being taken to police custody, linked to a graft probe.

President Tayyip Erdogan has escalated Turkey’s battle with its top business group, expanding a broad political crackdown on dissent and raising the stakes for his government’s economic turnaround program.

BREAKING: Two top figures of Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Orhan Turan and Ömer Aras, are being taken to police custody, following a statement by Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul. The reason is the speeches criticising the Gov’t, delivered by the two at a recent meeting.

Ekrem Imamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, is charged for "publicly insulting” and “threatening" the chief prosecutor of Istanbul-- with a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months and a political ban. Imamoğlu, a popular figure, is seen as the main challenger to Erdoğan in the elections, due in 2028.

"The premature triumphalism around the idea that “Turkey won Syria” creates a set of assumptions and expectations that are not necessarily grounded in reality, setting policymakers up for potentially nasty surprises." foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/13/t...

Police have made welve arrests as part of a coordinated parallel operation against the Turkish mafia in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Athens, officers from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DAOE) searched in three houses in the center of Athens, during which 11 people were detained.

Bashar Assad's official channel releases his statement on the background of his escape to Moscow and his reasonings.

“Mitsotakis described Turkey’s stance as “revisionist” and noted efforts to address core disputes over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf. However, he emphasized that he sees “no prospect” for meaningful dialogue at this time.” www.ekathimerini.com/politics/125...

Two top experts on Turkey, @stevenacook.bsky.social and @sinanciddi.bsky.social respond to questions by Turkey Today podcast host @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social on Turkey’s role and prospects on Syria’s future. open.spotify.com/episode/0Ewp...

Donald Trump picks Tom Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital, to serve as ambassador to Turkey, elevating a longtime friend to a crucial diplomatic post. He has also nominated Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor, Fox News TV host, to be the new Ambassador to Greece. (Bloomberg)

“…and now the conflicts of Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon come together and overlap in Aleppo… Depending on how fighting develops, the fall of Aleppo could give Ankara a dominant role in Syria’s future—not necessarily a prospect Israel would relish.” www.wsj.com/world/middle... @yarotrof.bsky.social

Babak Taghvaee reports of an assault, whose outcome is yet unclear. @mediapart.fr @birgun.bsky.social @theguardian.com

A comment by Yavuz Baydar. 👇 blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...

Greek police have arrested 11 Turkish nationals on suspicion of trafficking drugs and illegal arms in Greece and Europe. Undercover police conducted an operation in 3 areas on the outskirts of Athens – Dafni, Porto Rafti, and Anavysso – resulting in the arrest of the 11 smugglers. (Kathimerini)