**Turkish Mayor's Corruption Case Merged with "Criminal Organization" Allegations**

A Turkish court has merged two major legal cases against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The new development combines a corruption investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) contracts with a separate, highly political case. In that existing case, İmamoğlu is accused of being the "leader of a criminal organization." The official indictment states that some actions from the IBB corruption probe are now being used as evidence in the combined "criminal organization" case. Mayor İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure, has consistently denied all allegations. He claims the charges are politically motivated.