The Turkish Interior Ministry has dismissed Van Mayor Abdullah Zeydan and replaced him with a government-appointed trustee, citing a court ruling against him.

In a statement on social media platform X, the ministry announced Zeydan's removal, stating that it was due to a court-issued sentence. "Abdullah Zeydan has been dismissed from his duties following the court's punishment," the statement read.

The ministry further declared that Van Governor Ozan Balci has been appointed as Zeydan’s replacement. "The governor of Van, Ozan Balci, will assume the role of deputy mayor," it added.

On November 11, the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court sentenced Zeydan to three years and nine months in prison on charges of aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Since the March 31 local elections, the Turkish government has removed 11 mayors from office, replacing them with state-appointed governors. Among them, nine were from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and two from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

The municipalities where trustees have been appointed include Hakkari, Mardin, Elazığ, Dersim, Halfeti, Akdeniz, Muş, Siirt, and Van.