Türkiye, pro-Imamoglu demonstrator with the Pikachu costume escapes from the police

Pikachu-Clad Protester Becomes Symbol of Resistance in Türkiye as Demonstrations Escalate

Ankara, Türkiye – March 27, 2025

In a surreal twist to the ongoing unrest in Türkiye, a demonstrator dressed in a Pikachu costume has captured global attention after skillfully evading police during protests in support of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The incident, which occurred early Thursday morning in the capital city of Ankara, has gone viral, blending absurdity with the gravity of one of the largest anti-government movements in the country in over a decade.

The protests erupted last week following the arrest of Imamoglu, a prominent opposition leader and key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on corruption charges widely viewed as politically motivated. Since his detention on March 19, tens of thousands of citizens, including students and supporters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), have taken to the streets across Türkiye, decrying what they call an assault on democracy. Imamoglu, who was formally jailed pending trial on Sunday, had been selected as the CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election, intensifying the stakes of the demonstrations.

Amid the chaos of tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray deployed by security forces, the Pikachu-clad protester emerged as an unexpected icon. Video footage shows the bright yellow figure sprinting through the streets of Ankara, dodging police barricades and officers in riot gear. The scene, both humorous and defiant, has resonated widely, with social media users dubbing the costumed individual a symbol of creative resistance against oppression.

“He was just running, zigzagging through the crowd, and somehow the police couldn’t catch him,” said Ayşe Kaya, a university student who witnessed the escape. “It was like something out of a movie—Pikachu versus the state.”

The protests have grown increasingly tense, with more than 1,800 demonstrators arrested nationwide as of today, according to Turkey’s Interior Ministry. Security forces have cracked down hard, using forceful tactics to disperse crowds in cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. Yet, the appearance of the Pikachu protester has injected a moment of levity into an otherwise grim standoff, with some suggesting it reflects the ingenuity and spirit of the largely youthful movement.

President Erdogan has condemned the demonstrations, labeling them “street terrorism” and accusing the opposition of fueling instability. The government insists Imamoglu’s arrest is a legitimate judicial matter tied to corruption allegations, a claim his supporters vehemently reject. Critics argue the charges are a thinly veiled attempt to silence Erdogan’s most formidable challenger, whose 2019 mayoral victory in Istanbul ended decades of control by Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party and its predecessors.

The Pikachu incident is not the first time costumes have appeared in Türkiye’s protests, but it has struck a particular chord. Posts on X captured the moment, with one user joking, “Pikachu escapes as police disperse pro-Imamoglu protesters somewhere in Turkey, lol,” while another remarked, “If this isn’t peak 2025, I don’t know what is.” The footage has spread beyond Türkiye, drawing international headlines and even inspiring an AI-generated image of Pikachu fleeing police, further amplifying its reach.

As the demonstrations show no signs of abating, the Pikachu protester’s identity remains unknown, adding to the mystique. Some speculate it could be a nod to Giovanna Grandon, a Chilean activist known as “Tía Pikachu” who danced in a similar costume during protests in 2021. Regardless, the figure has become a rallying point for those opposing Erdogan’s government, with chants of “We are not scared, we won’t be silenced” echoing alongside images of the Pokémon character darting through the streets.

For now, the protests continue to challenge the government’s grip on power, with Imamoglu’s fate hanging in the balance. Whether Pikachu will make another appearance remains to be seen, but for many, the electric mouse has already sparked a jolt of hope in Türkiye’s turbulent political landscape.