site.btaEuropean Mayors, Including Sofia’s Vassil Terziev, Show Solidarity with Imprisoned Istanbul Counterpart Ekrem Imamoglu

A delegation of European mayors, including Sofia Mayor and Balkan Cities Network B40 President Vassil Terziev, voiced strong solidarity with imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a visit to Turkiye on Wednesday and Thursday. The delegation, part of the Eurocities network and headed by Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, took part in a large rally in downtown Istanbul and later presented Imamoglu with the Special Democracy Award.

On Wednesday night, a rally, held under the slogan “The People Defend Their Will”, was organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (RPP) and broadcast live on opposition channels Halk TV, Sozcu, and Cumhuriyet TV. RPP leader Ozgur Ozel introduced the European guests to the tens of thousands gathered, who chanted slogans such as “Freedom for the mayors” and “We want elections”. A letter written by Imamoglu from Silivri Prison was read to the crowd, while the square was heavily guarded by police. This was the 50th rally in support of the imprisoned mayor since March, and the first in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district, whose own mayor, Inan Guney, was recently arrested.

On Thursday, the Eurocities delegation, which included ten mayors and representatives from across Europe, presented the Special Democracy Award to Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, at Istanbul’s Sarachane quarter. Reading a declaration on her husband’s behalf, she conveyed his gratitude, stressing that the award belonged not only to him but to “everyone around the world who fights for justice and freedom while refusing to bow to authoritarian oppression”. Imamoglu’s message further warned against an era of wars, massacres, silenced media, and weaponized judiciaries, adding that despite his imprisonment for nearly six months, his determination had only strengthened.

Later in the day, the delegation visited Silivri Prison, where Imamoglu is held. Speaking outside the facility, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev emphasized the symbolism of the prison, saying it confined not just Imamoglu but “the will of millions of Turkish citizens who freely and democratically elected their mayor.” Terziev stressed that the delegation’s presence was meant to raise “a collective voice for freedom as strongly as possible”.

Barcelona’s Collboni echoed the sentiment, calling Imamoglu’s detention unjust and affirming that European mayors would continue to stand with their colleague. He described Imamoglu’s courage in defending democratic principles as an inspiration for European cities.

The visit underscored growing international concern over the imprisonment of Imamoglu and other RPP mayors, whose arrests have sparked widespread protests across Turkiye.