Widespread house raids were carried out on 13 May in protest against the Turkish state's attempt to re-seize the Van Metropolitan Municipality in the 31 March local elections. 

The 55 detainees were arbitrarily charged with "resisting the police", "membership of an illegal organisation" and "damaging public property". 

While 21 of them were imprisoned on the same charges, 34 people were released on judicial control conditions. 

In addition, 20 of 27 people, who were detained and jailed during the Van resistance on 2-3 April, were released by an interim decision of the court on Thursday night. Previously, 7 people had been released upon objections.

Background

There were violent protests and street clashes in Van following the local elections on 31 March after the victory of the newly elected co-mayor, Abdullah Zeydan of the DEM Party, was annulled and the second-placed AKP candidate was set to take office. A court had subsequently declared Zeydan's candidature invalid. After days of protests, the decision was reversed. In the uprising in Van immediately after the election coup, 350 people were detained, around thirty of whom were remanded in custody. The Turkish police used massive force against the demonstrators, using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Research by the Human Rights Commission of the local bar association revealed that around 400 people were injured during the protests and/or in police custody.

In the aftermath, there were also several waves of detentions in connection with the protests in Van. In the neighbouring province of Hakkari, the police and judiciary also took action against people who had demonstrated against the cancellation of Zeydan's mayoral election. According to lawyers, a total of around one hundred people are currently in custody for their involvement in protests against the electoral coup in Van.