The European Parliament is closely monitoring developments in Turkey, with timing proving particularly significant against the backdrop of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s consolidating grip on power at home and Ankara’s bid to elevate its geopolitical standing. On the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, decisive hearings began on Monday in the trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Widely regarded as President Erdogan’s principal political rival, Imamoglu faces charges that could result in a prison sentence exceeding 2,000 years. The European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Turkey for the Foreign Affairs Committee, MEP Nacho Sanchez Amor (S&D, Spain), attended the hearing as an observer, alongside other international monitors.
Ekrem Imamoglu: Three trials in a single day
The first hearing, held at the Silivri prison complex, concerned forgery charges related to the mayor’s university years — his academic degree having been annulled last March. Imamoglu denied all charges. The second case involves allegations of “political espionage,” with prosecutors seeking the continuation of his detention, while the third relates to corruption charges within the municipality — the basis on which Imamoglu has been held since March.
In total, all hearings have been compressed into just three days, set to conclude on July 9. This schedule raises serious doubts about the fairness of proceedings involving a defendant facing 142 separate charges in a case with more than 400 defendants and an indictment running to nearly 4,000 pages. It should be noted that Imamoglu has been in pre-trial detention since March 2025, with the lawfulness of his detention currently being examined as a priority matter by the European Court of Human Rights.
European Parliament’s message on the Imamoglu trial: Leaders meeting in Ankara must not overlook what is unfolding in Silivri
Following the hearing, Sanchez Amor stated:
“My presence today, as rapporteur for Turkey, at the hearings in the various trials against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is a testament to the European Parliament’s strong solidarity with him and with all those in Turkey who continue to defend democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms under increasingly difficult conditions — including the judicial assault on the main opposition party, the CHP. My presence here, far from constituting any interference in Turkey’s internal affairs, forms part of my mandate as rapporteur for a country that remains an EU candidate, as Turkish authorities themselves frequently note.
“I was deeply struck by Mr. Imamoglu’s resilience and determination before the court, despite having to face three separate cases in a single day — all involving proceedings we consider to be politically motivated. It is clearly no coincidence that all of this is happening precisely at the moment when international attention is focused on the NATO summit, in an apparent attempt to avoid public and international scrutiny.
“The contrast could not be more telling. At a time when the international agenda is dominated by security issues, as the NATO summit makes plain, critical judicial hearings that will determine the future of democracy in Turkey are taking place inside a prison. The leaders meeting in Ankara this week — particularly those from EU member states — must not overlook what is unfolding in Silivri. Respect for democratic standards, judicial independence, and the rule of law remains an essential element of Turkey’s credibility as a reliable partner, both now and in the future.”
“Europe will not turn a blind eye and no mayor will be left behind”
A joint statement on the Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s court hearings — scheduled for July 6–8 — was issued by Jelena Drenjanin, Chair of the Committee of the Regions’ Turkey Working Group, Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Turkey, and Magdalena Adamowicz, Member of the European Parliament.
“As Turkey hosts the second NATO Summit in Ankara this week — underscoring the country’s growing geopolitical importance and its role in the broader region — another event of profound significance for Turkish democracy and regional stability is taking place in Istanbul.
“On July 6, the main defense hearing begins for imprisoned Istanbul Mayor and leading opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu, more than a year after his arrest on politically motivated charges in March 2025. On the same day, he is also required to appear and defend himself in two additional hearings related to other cases brought against him — among the many he faces — raising serious questions about the fairness of these proceedings.”
“As members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Parliament, we are following these developments with the utmost attention. We reiterate our solidarity with Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, recipient of the 2026 Pawel Adamowicz Mayor Award — conferred by the Committee of the Regions, the City of Gdansk, and ICORN (the international network of cities committed to freedom of expression) — in recognition of his defense of democracy, solidarity, and local government independence in the face of relentless political pressure, hate campaigns, and efforts to remove him from office. As he stands before the court today, confronting the prospect of a prison sentence exceeding two thousand years, we must remember that he is not alone — the democrats of the European Union stand by his side.
“Local democracy in Turkey is deteriorating steadily, with approximately 45 democratically elected opposition mayors and local officials having been detained, arrested, or suspended since the opposition won the 2024 local elections. This is an ongoing problem, with six new arrests recorded in the past month alone. Furthermore, the practice of mayors switching parties under political pressure is affecting a growing number of municipalities and millions of Turkish voters. Attacks on local democracy in Turkey are closely linked to the broader democratic backsliding and regional instability. Europe will not turn a blind eye and no mayor will be left behind.
“The Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament continue to call on Turkish courts to release Ekrem Imamoglu and other detained mayors, and urge the Turkish government to fulfill its duty to protect democratically elected politicians from politically motivated prosecution.”
