Several local officials affiliated with the pro-PKK Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were detained as part of a terror probe in eastern Turkey’s Van province.

Axar.az reports citing Turkish media.

The so-called co-mayors detained in the operation were identified as Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan in Muradiye district, Yakup Almaç and Dilan Örenci in Özalp district and Erkan Acar in Başkale district.

The officials were brought to the Van Police Headquarters for testimony, reports said.

The HDP has unilaterally implemented co-mayorship in line with instructions from the PKK terrorist organization. The practice does not have legal grounds within municipal legislation.

The mayor-in-office shares his or her power with those vested with the capacity of co-mayor – ignoring that he or she was elected as the mayor with public votes – and authorizes these co-mayors to illegally act as de facto mayors, as well as to convert the municipalities into an administrative structure separate from the whole country.

The state-appointed governors have been temporarily replacing suspended mayors as trustees.

Twenty-four governors, including three in metropolitan municipalities, have replaced terror-linked mayors since the March 31 local elections.