site.btaSofia Mayor Vassil Terziev Calls for Freedom Outside Silivri Prison Holding Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Silivri Prison does not only confine the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, but also the will of millions of Turkish citizens who democratically elected him, Sofia Mayor and Balkan Cities Network B40 President, Vassil Terziev, said during a visit to the facility, as quoted by Turkish online outlet Birgun.net. Terziev was part of a delegation of mayors and representatives from European cities who travelled to Istanbul in a show of solidarity with the ousted and imprisoned Istanbul mayor.

Terziev stressed that the prison was not just an ordinary detention facility but something far more symbolic. He underlined that its gates and walls did not only keep one man locked away but also suppressed the will of millions of citizens in Istanbul who had freely and democratically elected their mayor. He added that this was why, in front of those prison walls, the delegation was raising a collective voice for freedom as strongly as possible.

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, who also serves as Vice President of the Eurocities network, delivered remarks as well. Quoted by Birgun.net, he noted that behind the prison walls was Ekrem Imamoglu, the democratically elected mayor of Istanbul who was being unjustly detained. Collboni emphasized that European mayors would continue to demonstrate solidarity with their colleague, and said that Imamoglu’s courage in defending democratic principles served as an inspiration to them all.