Protester in Pikachu costume at anti-Erdogan rally in Turkey goes viral

Amidst the  crackdown on protests in Turkey over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, an unusual sight captured public attention, a protester dressed in a Pikachu inflatable costume was seen running away from security forces during a demonstration.

Turkey is embroiled in mass protests against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after his fierce political rival, Imamoglu, was detained on charges of corruption and terrorism.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Antalya, where security forces charged at them to disperse the crowd. As the demonstrators fled the crackdown, Pikachu was also seen making a swift escape.

A photojournalist from Akdeniz University in Antalya captured the intriguing moment amid the chaos. After the video of the costumed protester went viral online, several AI-generated images of Pikachu at the demonstration also surfaced on social media.

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Erdogan’s critics have accused him of attempting to eliminate Imamoglu before the 2028 elections and of influencing the judiciary to take action against the opposition.

Imamoglu’s supporters maintain that the charges against him lack substantial evidence and are politically motivated. His lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was also arrested on Thursday. Following his detention, he accused Erdogan of attempting a "legal coup" against democracy.

With protests continuing for eight consecutive days in Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that nearly 1,900 protesters had been detained.

“1,879 suspects were detained, including 260 who were jailed pending trial. A further 468 were released under judicial control while their cases continue. Proceedings are ongoing for 662 other people,” the Associated Press reported.

Authorities have also conducted house raids to arrest protesters, particularly those affiliated with left-wing parties. Additionally, 11 journalists were imprisoned for covering the demonstrations.

Media channels supporting opposition parties faced severe penalties, including broadcast bans on protest coverage. BBC reporter Mark Lowen was arrested on charges of "disrupting public order" and was subsequently deported from Turkey.

According to Turkey’s Justice Minister, 106 additional arrests have been made, targeting municipal officials and business figures linked to İmamoğlu, with allegations of bribery, extortion, and bid-rigging.