Jelena Drenjanin, chair of the European Committee of the Regions' Working Group on Türkiye and member of Huddinge Municipality Council, led the CoR delegation to Istanbul and Ankara on 22-23 September. The mission followed up on a resolution adopted in April 2025 in which the CoR condemned the arrest and detention of local politicians in Türkiye, including the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
During her visit, she expressed solidarity with imprisoned mayors across the country: 'As members of the EPP-CoR Group, we remain steadfast in our commitment to defending democratic principles at the local level – a cornerstone of Türkiye’s EU accession process.'
Expanding on her remarks, she strongly condemned the systematic targeting of opposition mayors, the politicisation of judicial processes, and the replacement of elected officials with government appointees.
'These autocratic practices undermine the very foundations of democracy. Local leaders in Türkiye must be allowed to play their rightful role in shaping the future of their communities, without fear of repression from the central government.'
Over the course of the mission, the delegation met with numerous 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 with Nuri Aslan, the acting Mayor of Istanbul, and representatives of youth organisations. Extensive discussions centred on the ongoing threats to local democracy across the country, and the challenges faced by opposition mayors and other local elected representatives, as well as the broader political situation in Türkiye.
However, the delegation's request to visit the imprisoned mayors, including Mayor İmamoğlu, was denied by the Turkish authorities.
'We deeply regret that our request to visit him was denied. Local democracy is not negotiable, and the EPP-CoR Group will continue to monitor these worrying developments closely, in close coordination with our Turkish counterparts.'
The EPP-CoR Group reiterates its strong condemnation of the crackdown on democracy in Türkiye. The arrest of legally elected opposition leaders and continued pressure on local governments represent a clear provocation and a severe violation of the will of the people. The use of the judiciary as a political weapon undermines the rule of law and must cease immediately.