High-level mission to Türkiye calls for the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu 

Brussels, 22 September 2025  

Six months after the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his removal from office on politically motivated charges, a high-level delegation of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) went to Türkiye to deliver a clear message: democracy cannot be silenced, and elected mayors must be reinstated. 

Joško Klisović, Member of the Working Group Türkiye, Co-Chair of the Commission of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), Member of the Assembly of the City of Zagreb, was part of the mission which took place in Ankara and Istanbul from 21–23 September to express solidarity with persecuted local leaders, to gather first-hand evidence of democratic backsliding and to highlight the consequences of ongoing attacks on local self-government.Since 2024, 14 opposition mayors have been dismissed and replaced by government-appointed trustees, undermining the democratic will of Turkish citizens. On 19 March 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested with over 100 municipal officials and citizens on charges widely considered politically motivated.

During the mission, Mr. Klisović met representatives from three major political parties – the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) – as well as the acting Mayor of Istanbul, Nuri Aslan, and representatives of youth organisations. The discussions focused on the state of local democracy, and the challenges faced by opposition mayors and other local elected representatives, as well as the broader political context in Türkiye, including the ongoing peace process and the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced in May 2025.

The delegation sought but was not granted permission to visit imprisoned mayors, including Mayor İmamoğlu.

“Our mission to Turkey was a strong act of solidarity with those fighting for democracy and social justice under increasingly repressive conditions. Meeting with CHP, DEM and civil society confirmed that our presence boosts their morale and gives weight to their struggle. The dismissal of elected mayors and imprisonment of political opponents are unacceptable. As socialists, we will continue to demand democratic freedoms and respect for local self-government — our comrades in Turkey cannot be left to stand alone.”, stated Joško Klisović.

“When elected mayors are silenced and replaced by government appointees, it is not only Turkish democracy that suffers, but also every citizen's trust in democratic systems. Local democracy is a non-negotiable pillar of EU accession. This erosion of local democracy threatens Türkiye’s path to get closer to the European Union. From Bremen to Izmir, from Brussels to Istanbul, citizens are standing up to defend democracy in Türkiye. Europe must show that solidarity is more than just words, it is action,” stated Antje Grotheer, President of the Bremen State Parliament, 1^st Vice President of the PES Group in the CoR and member of the CoR Working Group on Türkiye. 

Linking European solidarity to concrete action 

As an immediate result of this mission, the PES Group in the CoR will nominate Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu for the 2025 edition of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award. 

This Award recognises individuals who embody courage, freedom, solidarity, and equality at the local level. The nomination of Ekrem İmamoğlu is a powerful political act of solidarity and a call for European institutions, local leaders, and civil society to unite in defence of democracy. 

Standing ready for cooperation 

Despite systemic restrictions, municipalities in Türkiye have continued to deliver progressive governance in areas such as climate action, refugee integration, and social services. The PES Group reaffirmed its readiness to intensify cooperation with democratic municipalities, including through the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) and the CoR Working Group on Türkiye. 

Background information