(AGENPARL) – Wed 25 June 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG042(2025)
Council of Europe Congress completes second fact-finding visit to Türkiye
These local elected representatives were calling for an international support in the face of the continuing waves of arrests, dismissals or suspensions of mayors and local councillors. The delegation reaffirmed its support to them on behalf of the Congress.
The Congress has reiterated on several occasions that the pre-trial detention of local elected representatives without indictment, and their replacement by government-appointed trustees is unacceptable. It is a confiscation of the will of the people.
The visit complemented the one that took place on 5-6 May 2025 during which the delegation met notably representatives of the Government and of the Justice and Development Part (AKP). During the current visit, the Congress President and the co-rapporteur met dismissed or suspended local elected representatives in Van, in particular Abdullah Zeydan, co-mayor of Van, and Hasan Akgun, mayor of the Istanbul district of Büyükcekmece, who is currently being detained in the Marmara penitentiary in Silivri. Both are Congress members and should therefore be able to exercise their mandate as mayors and take part in the work of the Congress, Marc Cools and Bryony Rudkin pointed out.
The delegation also met the co-Chair and representatives of the Dem Party in Ankara, and the chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) branch of the Youth association in Istanbul, who is currently under investigation for posting a public video on his social networks.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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