The Turkish Interior Ministry announced that Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul District Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan and Beylikduzu District Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık have been removed from their posts in connection with the investigations for which they and a number of other Republican People's Party (CHP) representatives were detained on March 19, TRT Haber reported.
The measure to remove the Istanbul mayor is temporary, referring to the extension of his arrest on charges of “corruption, bribery and misuse of personal data“, the media reported.
The measure to remove the district mayors is also temporary. Beylikduzu District Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık was removed due to his arrest on charges of “extortion and participation in an organized crime group“, and Şişli District Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan – due to his arrest on charges of “supporting a terrorist group”, TRT Haber added.
The announcement said that the Istanbul Metropolitan Council (in which the HDP has a majority) is to elect an interim mayor in the coming days.
This confirms initial reports that the government will not appoint a deputy mayor to replace İmamoğlu.