ISTANBUL (AP) — Police in Turkey fired tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who clashed with officers Friday outside an Istanbul courthouse while rallying in support of the city’s mayor, who was called to give testimony in two new legal probes against him.

Thousands of supporters gathered outside the Caglayan courthouse to protest the legal actions against Ekrem Imamoglu, a potential future leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and a possible challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Imamoglu testified Friday before prosecutors for two hours in connection with comments he made about a chief prosecutor and a court expert. Critics argue that the probes were part of an effort to remove Imamoglu from the political scene.

The politician has already been convicted of charges of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council and faces a political ban if his conviction in 2022 is upheld by a high court. He is also on trial on charges that he was involved in the alleged rigging of bids in a tender dating back to 2015.

Tensions escalated Friday when riot police blocked a CHP bus from approaching the courthouse. The move led to clashes between the protesters and the police, who responded with tear gas. It was not clear if any arrests were made.

Supporters of Istanbul mayor clash with police as he testifies over legal probes against him | iNFOnews.ca — Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu addresses his supporters in front of the Istanbul courthouse, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Imamoglu later addressed the crowds from the top of the bus at another location.

“Today’s issue is … an issue of seeking rights and justice,” the mayor said. “Unfortunately, today’s issue stems from a conspiracy that is being set up against Istanbul.”

Imamoglu, 53, was first elected to lead Istanbul in March 2019. His win was a historic blow to Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter-century. The party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities. The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Imamoglu also won.

Imamoglu was reelected mayor of Turkey’s largest city last year.