HDP’s dismissed Kars Co-Mayor Alaca sentenced to 6 years, released

* Photo: Twitter

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Dismissed Co-Mayor of Kars province Şevin Alaca, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kars Co-Chair Cengiz Anlı, HDP executives İzzet Altığ, Mustafa Yardımcıel, Reis Baykız and Kaya Naki had their third hearings in separate trials at the Kars 2nd Heavy Penal Court yesterday (April 6).

Making defense at the hearing, Alaca said that she had not committed the offense charged, carried out the municipal activities in line with the HDP bylaw and her works had been political works. Concluding her statement, Alaca demanded her acquittal and release.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the court has ruled that Şevin Alaca shall be sentenced to 6 years, 10 months, 15 days in prison on charge of "membership of a terrorist organization."

The court has also ruled that Alaca shall be released.

HDP executives released

Other HDP politicians, including HDP Kars Provincial Co-Chair Cengiz Anlı, reiterated their previous statements. Announcing its interim ruling after the recess, the court board has ruled for the release of all defendants, considering the time they had already spent behind bars.

The next hearing will be held on June 10, 2021.

Wha happened?

On October 1, 2020, police raised the houses of HDP and municipal executives in Kars province. As part of an investigation carried out by the Kars Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the house of Kars Co-Mayor Şevin Alaca and HDP Kars Co-Chair Cengiz Anlı were raided.

On the same day, Co-Mayor Şevin Alaca, Deputy Co-Mayor Muazzez Çağrıtekinci, Kars Provincial General Assembly Members Halil Kan and Suat Bayhan, Municipal Council Members; Kaya Naki, Municipal Council Member Fahrettin Kaya, Ömer Albayrak were removed from office on the grounds that they were allegedly "the members of a terrorist organization."

On October 2, Kars Governor Türker Öksüz was appointed as a trustee to the Kars Municipality. Alaca, appearing before the judge on October 8, was arrested on the grounds that "Turkey's laws do not have co-chairpersonship." (TP/SD)