Athens Mayor Haris Dukas is set to travel to Ankara this Saturday (April 5) as the appointed representative of the Socialists in the European Committee of the Regions. His visit underscores mounting European concerns over the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure in Turkey

Dukas will meet with the leadership of Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) to discuss the case against Imamoglu, who has faced legal challenges widely seen as politically motivated. The Athens mayor will also attend the CHP’s congress on Sunday (April 6), joining a European delegation expressing solidarity with Imamoglu and reaffirming support for democratic governance and political freedoms in Turkey.

His visit comes at a critical juncture in Turkish politics, as the opposition seeks to navigate increasing pressure from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration ahead of upcoming electoral battles. The European Socialists’ engagement signals broader EU concerns over the rule of law and democratic backsliding in Turkey.