Reuters:

In recent weeks authorities launched an investigation into alleged forgery of official documents related to Imamoglu’s university diploma, in a move critics called the latest state effort to use the judiciary to curb dissent.

Last week, Imamoglu lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan told Reuters there were no irregularities with the mayor’s diploma.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the lawyer said the university’s board of directors did not have the authority to make such a decision and called it null and void.

Imamoglu has long been seen as a capable challenger to Erdogan, who has run Turkey for more than two decades and who must hold elections before they are scheduled in 2028 if he wants to run again under the constitution.