European delegate Kostas Bakoyannis has demanded the immediate release of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a meeting with municipal leaders in Antalya, Turkey.
Bakoyannis, serving as head of the European Committee of the Regions delegation at the COP31 climate conference, met with Istanbul Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan to call for freedom for Imamoglu and other elected officials detained on political grounds.
Bakoyannis expressed steadfast solidarity with the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, calling him an old friend and collaborator. He stated that the imprisonment of elected representatives undermines the popular mandate, harms the rule of law, and places a serious burden on relations between Turkey and the European Union.
He added that respect for democracy and the independence of local administration constitutes a fundamental condition for Turkey on its path toward Europe.
European Committee of the Regions Resolution
The European Committee of the Regions has provided active support to Imamoglu and other targeted officials through formal measures. The assembly previously adopted a unanimous resolution condemning the arrests, demanding their immediate release, and launching regular institutional missions and interventions.
In March 2026, the committee awarded Imamoglu the Pawel Adamowicz Mayor Award for his defense of democracy and municipal autonomy.
Aslan thanked the European delegation for its continued support and solidarity toward Imamoglu and the municipality of Istanbul.
Background to the Dispute and Assembly Role
The European Committee of the Regions is the European Union advisory assembly of locally and regionally elected representatives. Established under EU treaties, the institution gathers regional governors, council leaders, and mayors from all 27 member states to ensure that local authorities have direct influence over EU policymaking.
Bakoyannis is a Greek politician who previously served as the mayor of Athens from 2019 to 2023. During his tenure leading the Greek capital, he worked regularly with municipal leaders across the region, including local government officials in Turkey.
Imamoglu, a prominent figure in the opposition Republican People's Party, was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019. He has faced repeated legal actions and political pressure from Turkish state authorities throughout his time leading the metropolitan municipality.
The COP31 summit, organised under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, convenes national governments and municipal leaders in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya to negotiate international environmental policy.
