Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, an opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was "deeply concerning". Von der Leyen told journalists, "Turkey must uphold democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials." "We want Turkey to remain anchored to Europe, but this requires a clear commitment to democratic norms and practices, and it is crucial that Turkey respects these fundamental principles," she emphasized.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Turkish media reported earlier today that Turkish police had arrested Imamoglu on charges of "corruption" and other allegations related to "terrorism."