The 4th hearing in the case against the deposed mayor of HDP-run Varto district municipality, Ülkü Karaaslan, was held at the 2nd Heavy Penal Court in Muş province on Wednesday.

Karaaslan stands trial for allegedly “being member of a terrorist organization”, “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations”.

Karaaslan and her lawyer attended the hearing via video-conferencing system SEGBIS from İzmir province. The democratically elected but unlawfully deposed co-mayor rejected the accusations which -she said- were connected with the appointment of a trustee to take over the municipal administration. Both Karaaslan and her lawyer demanded her acquittal.

The court board sentenced Karaaslan to 2 years and 3 months in prison for allegedly “spreading chain propaganda” and acquitted her of other charges.