Turkish authorities replaced pro-Kurdish mayors in the southeastern cities of Diyarbakir, Van, and Mardin amid the investigations related to terrorism, Reuters reported referring to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Three mayors are charged with various crimes, including membership in a terrorist organization and spreading propaganda from a terrorist group.

“For the health of the investigations, they have been temporarily removed from their posts as a precaution,” it said, referring to Diyarbakir Mayor Selcuk Mizrakli, Mardin Mayor Ahmet Turk and Van Mayor Bedia Ozgokce Ertan.

Turkey dismissed dozens of mayors in the predominantly Kurdish southeast of the country in 2016 due to suspicions of ties to the Kurdish Workers Party, replacing them with state administrators.

President Tayyip Erdogan warned in March that mayors from the pro-Kurdish party, Democracy of Peoples, could be removed from office.