The Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has placed the Turkish government’s practice of dismissing and arresting elected mayors under scrutiny, warning on Monday that it threatens democracy and fundamental freedoms. The congress, meeting in Strasbourg from 24-27 March, denounced the increasing removal of opposition mayors, including the recent arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as a blatant attempt to suppress political opposition ahead of elections.
The congress adopted a declaration on 24 March expressing “deep concern” over Turkey’s escalating repression of local and regional elected representatives. It condemned the “relentless campaign of judicial harassment” against İmamoğlu, who was taken into custody on 19 March alongside 105 others, including district mayors and business leaders. The congress also criticised the Turkish authorities’ decision to annul İmamoğlu’s university degree— a prerequisite for running in the upcoming presidential elections— the day before his arrest.
“The timing of these actions raises serious questions about their legitimacy,” the declaration read, highlighting that İmamoğlu’s detention occurred just days before the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was set to hold its presidential primaries. Then, on 23 March, while the CHP’s nationwide primaries were taking place, İmamoğlu was put in pre-trial detention on charges of leading a criminal organisation, a move the congress described as an “assault on democracy”. İmamoğlu won the presidential candidacy from behind bars with 14.8 million votes.
The congress noted that since 2016, Turkish authorities have frequently dismissed elected mayors, replacing them with government-appointed trustees, particularly in opposition strongholds. It cited the case of 13 mayors, including one congress member, who have been dismissed this year alone, leaving over four million Turkish citizens governed by unelected administrators. The declaration warned that İmamoğlu’s arrest could lead to İstanbul—the largest municipality in Europe with over 16 million residents—falling under government control.
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The congress also raised alarms over broader restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Turkey. It condemned widespread bans on public demonstrations in cities where opposition mayors were arrested, as well as growing censorship of critical media.
“These developments are not isolated incidents; they reflect a systematic effort to suppress pluralism and restrict political debate,” the congress stated. It reaffirmed its commitment to democratic standards as upheld by the European Court of Human Rights, stressing that Turkey’s actions contravene the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which Ankara ratified in 1992.
The congress urged Turkish authorities to halt the practice of removing elected officials, end broad restrictions on political freedoms, and release İmamoğlu and other detained politicians. It also announced plans for a fact-finding mission to Turkey to meet with dismissed and imprisoned mayors and assess the state of local democracy.
Despite repeated calls for reform, Turkish authorities have defended the dismissals and arrests as necessary measures against alleged corruption and terrorism links. However, opposition parties and international observers argue that these charges are politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
As Turkey approaches critical elections, the congress warned that the government’s actions risk further democratic backsliding. “Genuinely democratic elections require respecting the will of the people and providing equal opportunities to all candidates,” the declaration stressed.
