The second half of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's more than two-decade reign has been a tale of deepening authoritarianism. Analysts say the arrest of the Turkish leader's most popular political opponent on contested charges may be its most dangerous chapter to date.

A Turkish court jailed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most prominent rival, arresting him on corruption charges on Sunday, in what critics say is a major blow to democracy. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu who was preparing to announce his candidacy in the presidential vote for 2028,

Only last week, its government was still what political scientists call a competitive authoritarian regime: although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wields unchecked executive powers and de facto control over the courts and most of the media,