Turkish bar associations are for the first time boycotting a Supreme Court ceremony at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s palace, saying it undermines the separation of powers.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that it’s the latest blowback against Erdogan, who faces increasing criticism by some allies after his Justice and Development Party lost local elections this year in several cities, including Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest. The European Union has condemned political pressure on judges and prosecutors under Erdogan’s rule.

Several dozen provincial bar associations say they won’t attend the event on Sept. 2, including those representing lawyers in Istanbul and Ankara, the capital. The choice of venue signals “the rejection of all teachings on democracy, law and justice,” the Istanbul Bar Association, which claims about 45,000 members, said in a statement.

The ceremony marking the start of Turkey’s legal year was first held at Erdogan’s palace in 2016 after a failed military coup that prompted him to consolidate the presidency’s powers. While the venue was changed in 2017 in response to criticism, it moved back to the palace again last year.