"Pikachu is sweet and defensive: how a Pokémon became a protest symbol in Turkey

After 22 years in power and 71 years old, the autocrat knows that his only way out is to die in office or face prison. More information: Turkish police arrest the mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan's rival, for "linking terrorist groups" and corruption

Meanwhile, Imamoglu's party, the Republican Party once founded by Kemal Atatürk, fearing that mass demonstrations cannot be sustained in the long term, is looking for new ways to weaken power.

The Japanese anime figure Pikachu has become an unusual symbol of mass protests in Turkey. Protestist Simon Teuner explains why this works and what functions such a symbol has.

Hassan Taskan dressed as a pikasu at a demonstration in Turkey and became the unexpected symbol of resistance against Erdogan. Now the influencer is under attack from the state media.