The elected co-mayors of the Sarıcan town, in Karayazı district of Elazığ province in eastern Turkey, have been taken into custody this morning.

According to reports, the two democratically elected co-mayors were taken into custody during raids carried out on their houses in the early morning. Mehmet Sarı, a local administrator of the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) was also detained in today’s operation. In the meantime, Turkish soldiers have surrounded the municipality building.

While the co-mayors remain in custody, the AKP government is expected to appoint a trustee to take over the local administration, as has been the case in other municipalities won by the HDP in the local elections of 31 March 2019.