European court calls for Kavala’s immediate release
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Aug. 25 that Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has been imprisoned over the 2013 Gezi Park protests, must be immediately released and awarded compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
Kavala has been behind bars since 2017 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2022 for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government by financing street demonstrations.
The ECHR’s Grand Chamber, composed of 17 judges and serving as the court’s appellate body, delivered its ruling on Aug. 25 following Kavala’s second application to the court.
The court found that Türkiye had violated six articles of the European Convention on Human Rights during Kavala’s prosecution.
