ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Turkish authorities have arrested more than 340 protesters in demonstrations across the country calling for the release of Istanbul’s powerful mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the interior minister announced on Saturday.

Imamoglu, the anticipated main rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the upcoming presidential elections, was detained by security forces on Wednesday on multiple charges including bribery, extortion, money laundering, and aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

His arrest sparked large demonstrations across the country in recent days, with clashes breaking out between the protesters and security forces who used tear gas and water cannons to quell the protests.

A total of 343 protesters were detained during the demonstrations that took place in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Canakkale, Eskisehir, Konya, and Edirne on Friday evening, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

“Those who seek to disrupt social order, threaten the peace and security of our nation, and seek chaos and provocation will never be given a chance, and will definitely not be tolerated,” wrote Yerlikaya on X on Saturday.

“Our police officers, who are the guarantors of our peace and security, are on duty day and night,” he added.

Imamoglu’s arrest came just days before he was to be formally named the candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for the 2028 presidential race.

A day before his arrest, Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu’s university degree, on grounds it was falsely obtained.