Clément Plaisant
@cplaisant.bsky.social
International Relations | Diplomacy | Turkey-Syria | Et un peu d'@OL. Personal views here
Pinned
Updated timeline of the politico-judicial operation against the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu…
https://medium.com/@Mayis_Sikintisi/updated-timeline-of-the-politico-judicial-operation-against-the-mayor-of-istanbul-ekrem-i̇mamoğlu-4f02aaa92be7
As we pass the 100-day mark of the politico-judicial operation against Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu, I've compiled in 3 blog posts a few keys/resources that will (I hope) help to better understand this event (which is not over) :
1) a detailed timeline of the operation ++
medium.com/@Mayis_Sikin...
1) a detailed timeline of the operation ++
medium.com/@Mayis_Sikin...
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
A sad day for Turkey and a new stage in the government's operation against the municipality of Istanbul: Ekrem Imamoglu will officially appear in court on 142 charges; he faces up to 2,352 years (?!) in prison.
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
Son Dakika | İmamoğlu suç örgütü iddianamesi hazır! İşte Ekrem İmamoğlu için istenen ceza
Son dakika haberler - Son dakika haberi! İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcısı Akın Gürlek basın mensuplarıyla toplantı gerçekleştirdi. 'İmamoğlu çıkar amaçlı suç örgütü' iddianamesinin hazır olduğu belirtil...
m.sabah.com.tr
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A sad day for Turkey and a new stage in the government's operation against the municipality of Istanbul: Ekrem Imamoglu will officially appear in court on 142 charges; he faces up to 2,352 years (?!) in prison.
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
Important: According to Turkish opposition media, the indictment states that a request for the dissolution of the CHP has been filed with the Supreme Court prosecutor's office, in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution.
www.gazetepencere.com/gundem/ibb-i...
www.gazetepencere.com/gundem/ibb-i...
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Important: According to Turkish opposition media, the indictment states that a request for the dissolution of the CHP has been filed with the Supreme Court prosecutor's office, in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution.
www.gazetepencere.com/gundem/ibb-i...
www.gazetepencere.com/gundem/ibb-i...
A sad day for Turkey and a new stage in the government's operation against the municipality of Istanbul: Ekrem Imamoglu will officially appear in court on 142 charges; he faces up to 2,352 years (?!) in prison.
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
Son Dakika | İmamoğlu suç örgütü iddianamesi hazır! İşte Ekrem İmamoğlu için istenen ceza
Son dakika haberler - Son dakika haberi! İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcısı Akın Gürlek basın mensuplarıyla toplantı gerçekleştirdi. 'İmamoğlu çıkar amaçlı suç örgütü' iddianamesinin hazır olduğu belirtil...
m.sabah.com.tr
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A sad day for Turkey and a new stage in the government's operation against the municipality of Istanbul: Ekrem Imamoglu will officially appear in court on 142 charges; he faces up to 2,352 years (?!) in prison.
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
m.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2025/...
Extensive interview by Nezahat Doğan with Mithat Sancar, member of the DEM Party delegation to İmralı.
yeniyasamgazetesi9.com/zamana-yayma...
yeniyasamgazetesi9.com/zamana-yayma...
Zamana yaymak, güveni zedeliyor
Demokratik entegrasyonu, son yapılan açıklamaların anlamını ve sürecin geldiği evreyi, komisyonu ve en son yapılan İmralı görüşmesini İmralı Heyeti Üyesi
yeniyasamgazetesi9.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Extensive interview by Nezahat Doğan with Mithat Sancar, member of the DEM Party delegation to İmralı.
yeniyasamgazetesi9.com/zamana-yayma...
yeniyasamgazetesi9.com/zamana-yayma...
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
I am still doubtful that this will happen. If it does, it is a signal of real Israeli weakness in their negotiations with the US. And an impressive demonstration of Erdogan's success as a "Trump-whisperer"
"The Turkish government is finalising plans that would result in the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force, as negotiations with the US and Israel continue on the issue, Middle East Eye can reveal"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
Turkey readies military brigade for Gaza stabilisation force
While the US is yet to make a decision and Israel opposes Turkish boots on the ground, Ankara is finalising plans to put troops in Gaza
www.middleeasteye.net
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I am still doubtful that this will happen. If it does, it is a signal of real Israeli weakness in their negotiations with the US. And an impressive demonstration of Erdogan's success as a "Trump-whisperer"
"The Turkish government is finalising plans that would result in the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force, as negotiations with the US and Israel continue on the issue, Middle East Eye can reveal"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
Turkey readies military brigade for Gaza stabilisation force
While the US is yet to make a decision and Israel opposes Turkish boots on the ground, Ankara is finalising plans to put troops in Gaza
www.middleeasteye.net
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"The Turkish government is finalising plans that would result in the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force, as negotiations with the US and Israel continue on the issue, Middle East Eye can reveal"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
"A team from the international crime watchdog FATF will evaluate Turkey this month after removing it from its "grey list" last year for progress made in fighting money laundering and the funding of terrorist activity"
www.reuters.com/world/middle...
www.reuters.com/world/middle...
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
"A team from the international crime watchdog FATF will evaluate Turkey this month after removing it from its "grey list" last year for progress made in fighting money laundering and the funding of terrorist activity"
www.reuters.com/world/middle...
www.reuters.com/world/middle...
As the AKP celebrates its 23rd anniversary, Bekir Ağırdır traces its evolution from a mass party to an identity-based movement, and finally to its (final?) transformation into a party-state.
gazeteoksijen.com/yazarlar/bek...
gazeteoksijen.com/yazarlar/bek...
AK Parti’nin 23 yılı; kitle partisinden devlet partisine
Gazete Oksijen
gazeteoksijen.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
As the AKP celebrates its 23rd anniversary, Bekir Ağırdır traces its evolution from a mass party to an identity-based movement, and finally to its (final?) transformation into a party-state.
gazeteoksijen.com/yazarlar/bek...
gazeteoksijen.com/yazarlar/bek...
A move that will surprise no one in Turkish opposition circles. Gürsel Tekin, former member of the CHP (he was expelled) and trustee of the party's İstanbul provincial branch, gave an interview to the pro-government newspaper Sabah.
m.sabah.com.tr/galeri/gunde...
m.sabah.com.tr/galeri/gunde...
Gürsel Tekin'den SABAH'a özel açıklamalar! "Hakkında şaibe olan gider aklanır gelir"
CHP İstanbul İl Başkanı Gürsel Tekin, SABAH Gazetesi yazarı Tuba Kalçık'a özel açıklamalarda bulundu. Tekin, "Şimdi Aziz İhsan Aktaş ekranlara çıkıp parti...
m.sabah.com.tr
November 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
A move that will surprise no one in Turkish opposition circles. Gürsel Tekin, former member of the CHP (he was expelled) and trustee of the party's İstanbul provincial branch, gave an interview to the pro-government newspaper Sabah.
m.sabah.com.tr/galeri/gunde...
m.sabah.com.tr/galeri/gunde...
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
What I find most fascinating is that even though the general contours of the envisioned plan were already laid out as early as May this year by journalists in pro-government as well as Kurdish media, it seems to have gained, as of this week, a new status beyond what could possibly be propaganda.
November 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
What I find most fascinating is that even though the general contours of the envisioned plan were already laid out as early as May this year by journalists in pro-government as well as Kurdish media, it seems to have gained, as of this week, a new status beyond what could possibly be propaganda.
I completely agree. Moreover, this process is nothing more than a private agreement between elites; specifically, it is entirely shaped by the Bahçeli-Öcalan-Erdoğan triangle. Mehmet Emin Ekmen from DEVA party recently discussed this.
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/can...
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/can...
November 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I completely agree. Moreover, this process is nothing more than a private agreement between elites; specifically, it is entirely shaped by the Bahçeli-Öcalan-Erdoğan triangle. Mehmet Emin Ekmen from DEVA party recently discussed this.
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/can...
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/can...
There have been numerous articles in the Turkish press this week about the supposed AKP-MHP crisis. Özdal's paper is interesting: he posits that with the war in 🇺🇦 and 7 October, the external conditions that allowed the Alliance and the ‘15 July regime’ to remain firmly in place have been disrupted
November 9, 2025 at 10:12 AM
There have been numerous articles in the Turkish press this week about the supposed AKP-MHP crisis. Özdal's paper is interesting: he posits that with the war in 🇺🇦 and 7 October, the external conditions that allowed the Alliance and the ‘15 July regime’ to remain firmly in place have been disrupted
An interesting paper by Mesut Yegen on the emergence of a Middle East 2.0. The main political forces in Turkey seem ready for this, notably the ruling bloc and the DEM, which are banking on Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood; however, this is less the case for the CHP
www.perspektif.online/ortadogu-2-0...
www.perspektif.online/ortadogu-2-0...
Ortadoğu 2.0’a Hazır mıyız? - MESUT YEĞEN
Ortadoğu 2.0 statükosunun iki hediyesi daha var: Filistin sorununun ve Kürt meselesinin işin içindeki herkesin şöyle ya da böyle kaldırabileceği bir şekilde hal yoluna sokulması. Türkiye’nin Kürtlerle...
www.perspektif.online
November 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
An interesting paper by Mesut Yegen on the emergence of a Middle East 2.0. The main political forces in Turkey seem ready for this, notably the ruling bloc and the DEM, which are banking on Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood; however, this is less the case for the CHP
www.perspektif.online/ortadogu-2-0...
www.perspektif.online/ortadogu-2-0...
However, there is something that intrigues me in this interview with Sozdar Avesta (member of the Presidential Council of the KCK) : only 25 PKK rebels withdrew from Turkey? Strange.
"The Kurdistan Freedom Movement took a historic step in response to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call at the press conference on 26 October in the Qendîl Mountains. Twenty-five guerrilla fighters [...] announced their return from Northern Kurdistan"
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
Sozdar Avesta: The first thing that needs to be done is to ensure the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan
Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, gave an assessment of the guerrilla press conference held on 26 October in the mountains of Kurdistan. She talks about the steps taken ...
english.anf-news.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
However, there is something that intrigues me in this interview with Sozdar Avesta (member of the Presidential Council of the KCK) : only 25 PKK rebels withdrew from Turkey? Strange.
"The Kurdistan Freedom Movement took a historic step in response to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call at the press conference on 26 October in the Qendîl Mountains. Twenty-five guerrilla fighters [...] announced their return from Northern Kurdistan"
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
Sozdar Avesta: The first thing that needs to be done is to ensure the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan
Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, gave an assessment of the guerrilla press conference held on 26 October in the mountains of Kurdistan. She talks about the steps taken ...
english.anf-news.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"The Kurdistan Freedom Movement took a historic step in response to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call at the press conference on 26 October in the Qendîl Mountains. Twenty-five guerrilla fighters [...] announced their return from Northern Kurdistan"
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
english.anf-news.com/features/soz...
Regarding the possibility of Demirtaş's release, two things must be kept in mind: 1) Erdoğan wants to guide the peace process without taking any risks or making any sacrifices, 2) the dispute between Erdoğan and Demirtaş goes beyond a simple political quarrel; it is a personal matter.
November 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Regarding the possibility of Demirtaş's release, two things must be kept in mind: 1) Erdoğan wants to guide the peace process without taking any risks or making any sacrifices, 2) the dispute between Erdoğan and Demirtaş goes beyond a simple political quarrel; it is a personal matter.
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
The earlier post should read:
I don't think Ankara will release Demirtaş (no matter how unlawful this decision may be)&simultaneously give the green light to the parliamentary commission's visit to İmralı. With his message today, Demirtaş has placed the second at the top of the list of priorities.
I don't think Ankara will release Demirtaş (no matter how unlawful this decision may be)&simultaneously give the green light to the parliamentary commission's visit to İmralı. With his message today, Demirtaş has placed the second at the top of the list of priorities.
I don't think Ankara will release Demirtaş (no matter how unlawful this decision may be) or give the green light to the parliamentary commission's visit to İmralı. With his message today, Demirtaş has placed the second at the top of the list of priorities.
November 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The earlier post should read:
I don't think Ankara will release Demirtaş (no matter how unlawful this decision may be)&simultaneously give the green light to the parliamentary commission's visit to İmralı. With his message today, Demirtaş has placed the second at the top of the list of priorities.
I don't think Ankara will release Demirtaş (no matter how unlawful this decision may be)&simultaneously give the green light to the parliamentary commission's visit to İmralı. With his message today, Demirtaş has placed the second at the top of the list of priorities.
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
NEW: Syria's Kurds fear new betrayal as Sharaa gears up for Trump meeting
With Sharaa set to meet Trump, Syrian Kurds face uncertainty over their autonomy and future influence.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
With Sharaa set to meet Trump, Syrian Kurds face uncertainty over their autonomy and future influence.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:15 AM
NEW: Syria's Kurds fear new betrayal as Sharaa gears up for Trump meeting
With Sharaa set to meet Trump, Syrian Kurds face uncertainty over their autonomy and future influence.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
With Sharaa set to meet Trump, Syrian Kurds face uncertainty over their autonomy and future influence.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
The situation of the so-called rule of law in Turkey: while some within the ruling bloc are calling for compliance with ECHR rulings and the release of Selahattin Demirtas, at the same time, Turkish courts are refusing to enforce the rulings of the Constitutional Court (Tayfun Kahraman case).
Mahkeme AYM'nin Tayfun Kahraman hakkındaki yeniden yargılama talebine uymadı
Mahkeme AYM’nin Tayfun Kahraman hakkındaki yeniden yargılama talebine uymadı
Gezi Parkı davasında tutuklu bulunan Tayfun Kahraman için Anayasa Mahkemesi'nin verdiği hak ihlali kararı uygulanmadı.
medyascope.tv
November 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The situation of the so-called rule of law in Turkey: while some within the ruling bloc are calling for compliance with ECHR rulings and the release of Selahattin Demirtas, at the same time, Turkish courts are refusing to enforce the rulings of the Constitutional Court (Tayfun Kahraman case).
A very thorough paper on Turkey's engagement in Gaza. Definitely worth reading.
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
November 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
A very thorough paper on Turkey's engagement in Gaza. Definitely worth reading.
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
"Turkey’s parliament on Friday received 18 summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the immunity of 12 lawmakers, including main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel"
www.turkishminute.com/2025/11/07/m...
www.turkishminute.com/2025/11/07/m...
Main opposition leader among 12 MPs facing removal of parliamentary immunity - Turkish Minute
Turkey’s parliament on Friday received 18 summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the immunity of 12 lawmakers, including main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel. Seven of t...
www.turkishminute.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
"Turkey’s parliament on Friday received 18 summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the immunity of 12 lawmakers, including main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel"
www.turkishminute.com/2025/11/07/m...
www.turkishminute.com/2025/11/07/m...
Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament and key figure in the peace process, spoke to journalists. He emphasised several points: 1) The parliamentary committee will vote on whether or not to go to İmralı, 2) Next Thursday, the Ministers of the Interior+
www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/komis...
www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/komis...
Komisyon İmranlı'ya gidecek mi? TBMM Başkanı Kurtulmuş'tan önemli açıklamalar
TBMM Başkanı Numan Kurtulmuş, Terörsüz Türkiye sürecine ilişkin, Milli güvenlikle ilgili kurumlarımızın, başta Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı ve Milli Savunma...
www.hurriyet.com.tr
November 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament and key figure in the peace process, spoke to journalists. He emphasised several points: 1) The parliamentary committee will vote on whether or not to go to İmralı, 2) Next Thursday, the Ministers of the Interior+
www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/komis...
www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/komis...
Incidentally, I am not sure that all this so-called exclusive information is really exclusive. For exemple, as early as May 2025, Turkish columnist Okan Müderrisoğlu was already mentioning the possibility that Ankara might send PKK commanders to third countries.
www.sabah.com.tr/galeri/haber...
www.sabah.com.tr/galeri/haber...
November 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Incidentally, I am not sure that all this so-called exclusive information is really exclusive. For exemple, as early as May 2025, Turkish columnist Okan Müderrisoğlu was already mentioning the possibility that Ankara might send PKK commanders to third countries.
www.sabah.com.tr/galeri/haber...
www.sabah.com.tr/galeri/haber...
Turkey preparing law to let PKK fighters return
"The sources disclosed details that have not previously been reported, including proposals for returns to take place in separate waves of civilians and fighters, and for commanders to be sent to third countries"
www.reuters.com/business/med...
"The sources disclosed details that have not previously been reported, including proposals for returns to take place in separate waves of civilians and fighters, and for commanders to be sent to third countries"
www.reuters.com/business/med...
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Turkey preparing law to let PKK fighters return
"The sources disclosed details that have not previously been reported, including proposals for returns to take place in separate waves of civilians and fighters, and for commanders to be sent to third countries"
www.reuters.com/business/med...
"The sources disclosed details that have not previously been reported, including proposals for returns to take place in separate waves of civilians and fighters, and for commanders to be sent to third countries"
www.reuters.com/business/med...
As part of the investigation targeting the opposition-led Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the ‘suspects’ who were questioned and then released have had 1) their mobile phones confiscated, 2) been placed under judicial supervision, and 3) been banned from leaving the country.
November 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
As part of the investigation targeting the opposition-led Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the ‘suspects’ who were questioned and then released have had 1) their mobile phones confiscated, 2) been placed under judicial supervision, and 3) been banned from leaving the country.