(ANSA) – ISTANBUL, 17 JAN – A new hearing in the trial in which the Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala is accused of espionage has opened at the Caglayan court in Istanbul. Outside the courthouse a group of activists held a small press conference before the hearing demanding the release of the businessman and human rights activist who has been in prison for over 4 years.
Arrested in November 2017 on suspicion of financing anti-government protests that broke out in Istanbul’s Gezi park in 2013, Kavala was acquitted in February 2020 and then immediately tried again – without being released from prison – on charges of espionage. political and military as part of an investigation into the attempted coup of 15 July 2016.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had asked for Kavala’s release as early as December 2019, but Ankara has never implemented the sentence, causing a reaction from the Council of Europe which last month notified Turkey. he intends to open an infringement procedure for not having observed the decision of the ECHR. Strasbourg has given Ankara until 19 January to provide answers with respect to the Kavala case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers Kavala an opponent and last October threatened to expel 10 Western ambassadors – including those from the US, France and Germany – from the country over an appeal demanding the release of the Turkish philanthropist. (HANDLE).
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Source From: Ansa
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