We, the mayors and members of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, under the leadership of Mr. Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia and President of the B40 Network, express our profound concern and strong solidarity in light of the recent developments concerning our esteemed colleague, the Founding President of the B40 Network, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of İstanbul and the President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and a respected advocate for democracy, inclusivity, and progressive governance.
Mayor İmamoğlu’s detention raises serious concerns regarding the state of democratic norms, human rights, and local freedoms in Türkiye. This situation not only impacts the democratic mandate given to Mayor İmamoğlu by millions of Istanbulites but also poses broader challenges to local governance and democratic integrity.
The B40 Balkan Cities Network was founded on the principles of cooperation, democracy, regional solidarity, and respect for fundamental human rights. As our founding president, Mayor İmamoğlu has consistently championed these values, inspiring numerous cities across the Balkan region and beyond to pursue inclusive, transparent, and democratic local governance.
We, the members of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, express our deep concern and call for adherence to the principles of the rule of law, human rights, and local democracy. We also emphasize the importance of ensuring that all elected municipal leaders are able to fulfill their democratic mandates without undue interference.
Furthermore, we call upon European institutions and the international community to monitor the situation closely and to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at upholding democratic norms and the rule of law in Türkiye.
Our solidarity remains unwavering with Mayor İmamoğlu, his family, the Istanbulites, and all Turkish citizens advocating courageously for democracy, freedom, and justice.
As the B40 Cities united under the motto of “Better Cooperation, Better Future”,we stand together to protect the values that bind us: democracy, human dignity, and justice.
Date: 21.03.2025
Signed by:
B40 Balkan Cities Network Members and Mayors
