The German government has responded to the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, stating that the detention of the Istanbul mayor and numerous other individuals in Turkey is a severe blow to democracy in the country on the Bosphorus. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said in a response to a request from the dpa news agency on Wednesday that the arrest fits into a series of increased legal pressure on the Istanbul mayor. “And for us, the respect for democratic and constitutional principles is a fundamental condition for a functioning democracy.”
The spokesperson added that the government is in a constant exchange with Turkish representatives, both through the Turkish embassy in Berlin and the German embassy in Ankara. “I am sure that this step will be addressed in an appropriate manner to our Turkish counterparts.” He declined to speculate further.
Imamoglu was arrested on Wednesday morning, allegedly leading a criminal organization, with further charges involving bribery and the manipulation of tenders. Additionally, it is about an alleged support of the PKK by Imamoglu’s CHP party. Along with the mayor, about 100 other people were arrested. Imamoglu is considered the most powerful rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.