The AKP-MHP regime usurped the municipalities of Dersim under the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and Ovacık under the Republican People's Party (CHP) by appointing trustees in the place of the democratically elected mayors who were sentenced to prison two days ago.

While those on vigil at the municipality were forcibly taken out of the building, people are gathering in front of the municipality in protest at the usurpation of their will under a siege by the riot police.

The Ministry of Interior announced that Tunceli Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu was appointed in place of Dersim Co-Mayors Cevdet Konak and Birsen Orhan, and district governor Hüseyin Şamil Sözen was appointed in place of Ovacık Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül.

On 20 November, Dersim Co-Mayor Cevdet Konak and Ovacık Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months imprisonment each in the lawsuit filed 10 years ago for alleged ‘membership in an illegal organisation’. 

In a statement on the same day, lawyer Kenan Çetin stated that the activities of the party were considered as a crime and both mayors were sentenced for elements that did not constitute a crime. Çetin said that they would take the court decision to the Court of Appeal, the ECtHR and the Constitutional Court.

Dersim Co-Mayor Cevdet Konak said his participation in funeral ceremonies was considered a criminal offence during his service as the mayor of Hozat district. Konak stated that the activities of the municipality and the party were made the subject of accusations and even their right to defence was taken away from them.

Mustafa Sarıgül, Mayor of Ovacık, stated that attending funerals cannot be considered a crime, adding, “We are proud to serve the people.”