The Council of Europe is “demanding” the “immediate” release of Constantinople Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu after his delegation met with his jailed political rival Erdogan.

“After an in-depth exchange of views with Mr Imamoglu, we remain convinced that it is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law that Constantinople is deprived of its mayor by detaining him without trial or charge, and we reiterate our call for his immediate release,” the Council of Europe delegation said in a statement issued after the meeting at Silivri prison.

It is the first international delegation to meet Ekrem Imamoglu since his arrest on 19 March. “The arrest of local leaders and municipal officials, as well as their replacement without due process of law or a trial based on evidence, violates fundamental democratic principles,” the statement denounced.

“…allegations of terrorism (…) can in no way justify the replacement of mayors by government administrators. These measures de facto ignore the will of the citizens as expressed at the polls.”

The delegation is “concerned” “about the violation of the fundamental freedoms of protesters that manifested itself after the demonstrations triggered by the arrest of the Constantinople mayor.”

The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, who received the nomination of the candidate of Turkey’s main opposition CHP party for the 2028 presidential election on the day of his imprisonment, sparked a wider wave of protest and anger in the country ruled since 2002 by Erdogan and his AKP.