EU Expresses Concerns Over Arrest of Istanbul Mayor

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has expressed concern regarding the arrest of opposition Turkish politician and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, urging Turkey to respect democratic values.

"The mayor's arrest is profoundly alarming. As a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for EU membership, Turkey must adhere to democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials," von der Leyen stated at a press conference in Brussels.

She emphasized that Turkey should remain committed to the fundamental principles of democracy. Previously, it was reported that the opposition mayor was arrested in relation to a corruption case. Additionally, over 100 arrest warrants have been issued, including for public servants, political activists, journalists, and businesspeople. The leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, Özgür Özel, characterized this as an attempted coup and urged supporters to take to the streets.