In response to a question from a reporter during a weekly press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said that “anywhere in the world, it’s always concerning when you see the removal of elected officials and then their replacement by unelected officials.”

“That’s obviously concerning, right?”

She then called on Ankara to resolve the situation “in a way that is consistent with their commitment to democracy.”

However, she largely dodged a question about whether the US supported renewed dialogue between the Turkish government and Kurdish groups.

“We, of course, always encourage a broad approach in Turkey’s engagement with the Kurdish communities,” Ortagus concluded.

On Monday, the Turkish government replaced the HDP mayors of Diyarbakir, Van, and Mardin with state officials.

They have been accused of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which the Turkish government has designated as a terrorist organization. The HDP denies any connection.

In the past, Ankara has used similar accusations to replace or remove HDP officials.

The move sparked protests in Turkish cities, which were broken up by the police using water cannons and baton charges.

In Diyarbakir, roads leading into the city were closed to prevent protesters from gathering.

Reporter’s code: 50101