Statement on court proceedings against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu

The following joint statement on the court hearing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on 6-8 July is issued by Jelena Drenjanin, Chair of the Working Group Türkiye of the European Committee of the Regions, by Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s Permanent Rapporteur on Türkiye, and by Magdalena Adamowicz, Member of the European Parliament.

“As Türkiye hosts its second-ever NATO Summit in Ankara this week, highlighting the country's growing geopolitical importance and its role in the wider region, another event of profound significance for Turkish democracy and regional stability is taking place in Istanbul.

“On 6 July, the main defence hearing of the imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul and leading opposition figure, Ekrem İmamoğlu, starts, more than one year after his arrest on politically motivated charges in March 2025. On the same day, he will also have to attend and defend himself in two other hearings related to other cases against him – of the many he is facing, which raises serious questions about the fairness of these procedures.

“As members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and of the European Parliament, we are following the proceedings very closely. We reiterate our solidarity with Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, laureate of the 2026 Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award given by the CoR, the City of Gdańsk and ICORN, in recognition of his defence of democracy, solidarity and the independence of local government in the context of sustained political pressure, hate campaigns and attempts at political disqualification. As he is defending himself in the courtroom today, facing the prospect of over two thousand years in prison, we need to remember that he is not alonebecause democrats from the European Union stand with him.

“Local democracy in Türkiye is steadily deteriorating, with some 45 democratically elected opposition mayors and local officials detained, arrested or suspended since the opposition won the 2024 local elections. This is an ongoing issue, with six new arrests last month alone. In addition, the practice of mayors switching party under political pressure is affecting a growing number of municipalities and millions of Turkish voters. The attacks on local democracy in Türkiye are closely linked to wider democratic backsliding and to regional instability. Europe will not turn a blind eye and no mayor will be left behind.

“The CoR and the European Parliament continue to call on the Turkish court to release Ekrem İmamoğlu and other arrested mayors and urge the Turkish government to uphold its duty to protect democratically elected politicians from politically motivated prosecution.”

Jelena Drenjanin (SE/EPP), Chair of the CoR’s Working Group on relations with Türkiye

Nacho Sánchez Amor (ES/S&D), Member of the European Parliament, European Parliament’s Permanent Rapporteur on Türkiye

Magdalena Adamowicz (PL/EPP), Member of the European Parliament, member of the Jury of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award