An unexpected figure captured the internet’s attention this week during a major political protest in Istanbul, where a man dressed as Pikachu was filmed running from the police. The surreal moment, shared across social media, quickly turned into a viral symbol of resistance amid serious unrest in Turkey.
Arrest of Opposition Leader Triggers Mass Protests
On March 23, tensions reached a breaking point in Turkey after the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul and the most prominent opposition candidate facing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next elections. Imamoglu’s arrest was seen by many as a targeted move to cripple the opposition ahead of the vote, sparking immediate outrage.
Crowds flooded the streets of Istanbul in the following days. Protesters, backed by the Republican People’s Party (CHP), demanded his release and condemned what they called authoritarian overreach by the Erdogan government. These protests quickly grew in scale, echoing through Turkey’s largest city and drawing international notice.
Viral Chaos: Pikachu in the Crowd
On March 27, a new twist gave the protest global visibility. A man dressed as Pikachu, the beloved yellow character from the Pokémon franchise, was caught on video sprinting through a dense protest crowd — with police officers hot on his heels.
The bizarre chase was captured from multiple angles and widely reposted online. One clip, viewed thousands of times, was shared by the Twitter/X account @frelpia, with users around the world reacting in disbelief, humor, and political commentary.
The footage shows the costumed protester zigzagging through the crowd, trying to escape the advancing riot police. The oversized Pikachu suit bounces comically as the man runs, while protesters cheer and film the scene.
🇹🇷 #BREAKING | Pikachu was spotted fleeing from the police during anti-Erdoğan protests in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/NhTgV7FqHe
— Universal News (@universalnewsx) March 27, 2025
Political Messaging Meets Pop Culture
Rather than dismissing the video as a joke, CHP’s official communications team embraced it. On their account @CHP_iletisim, they posted the chase with a caption reading:
“Pikachu’yu bile etkileyen biber gazı sana bana ne yapmaz!” (“If even Pikachu is affected by tear gas, imagine what it does to us!”)
The post used the hashtag #DirenPikachu (“Resist Pikachu”), which rapidly spread through Turkish Twitter. The moment was instantly reinterpreted as a symbol of absurd yet heartfelt protest — using pop culture to soften the mood while amplifying the political message.
Not a Solo Act: Spider-Man Joins the Scene
Pikachu wasn’t the only unusual presence in the streets. Protesters also spotted someone dressed as Spider-Man, waving a Turkish flag and marching alongside other demonstrators. The inclusion of pop culture icons in the protest turned the march into a spectacle that blurred the lines between satire, creativity, and civic defiance.
Both costumes served more than comic relief. They helped capture international attention and lent a memorable, human face to what might otherwise be seen as another tense, tragic political story in a country with an increasingly fraught democratic landscape.
A Dark Backdrop Behind the Memes
Despite the humorous imagery, the overall situation in Turkey remains tense. Over 1,800 people have reportedly been arrested since the wave of protests began, including numerous journalists. Accusations of police brutality are widespread, and Erdogan’s administration continues to crack down on opposition voices.
The use of tear gas and mass detentions during peaceful protests has drawn criticism from rights organizations, but domestic media coverage remains tightly controlled. This makes viral clips like “Pikachu fleeing police” one of the few ways protest moments can break into global consciousness.
