Since the local elections in March 2019, the two HDP politicians have jointly and successfully held the office of mayor of the Kars province. Bilgen was arrested last week in connection with the so-called "Kobanê investigations". Şevin Alaca was arrested together with twenty other people on October 1. Today she was brought before the court, which issued a warrant for her arrest on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organization.

 

Since yesterday, 16 people have been arrested in the same proceedings, including the chairman of the HDP provincial association, Cengiz Anli. The other five persons concerned have been provisionally released against reporting requirements.

 

Kars is now under trustee administration. The governor's appointment as trustee came only ten minutes after the arrest warrant against Ayhan Bilgen was issued. The elected city council has been dissolved. In the meantime, trustees have been appointed in all major cities formerly governed by the HDP.