Politis

EU Raises Concerns About Turkey's Commitment to Democratic Values on Imamoglu's Arrest Anniversary

Published March 23, 2026, 20:19
EU Raises Concerns About Turkey's Commitment to Democratic Values on Imamoglu's Arrest Anniversary

The European Commission has expressed growing concern about the state of law in Turkey, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The Commission's Enlargement Spokesperson, Guillaume Mercier, stressed that the continued detention and prosecution of elected officials, political activists and journalists raises questions about Turkey's commitment to democratic values. The Commission recalled that the 2025 Enlargement Report records a regression of Turkey in terms of the rule of law and democratic standards, and calls on the Turkish authorities to comply with the prescribed procedures.