Turkish court rules to keep Kavala in jail during trial (updated)
26/11/2021 09:00
* Court: Kavala must stay in jail for trial duration
* 10 Western envoys called for his release
* Erdogan threatened to expel them before backing down
(Recasts with court ruling, adds quotes, details)
By Ali Kucukgocmen
ISTANBUL, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A Turkish court ruled on Friday
that philanthropist Osman Kavala must stay in prison, extending
his four-year detention without conviction in a trial which has
further strained difficult relations between Ankara and its
Western allies.
The trial has been criticised as politically motivated and
symbolic of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip
Erdogan. The government rejects this and says Turkey's courts
are independent. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2L335L
Last month Erdogan threatened to expel the ambassadors of 10
countries, including the United States, Germany and France,
after they echoed a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling
that Kavala should be freed.
The prospect of further deterioration in Western ties added
at the time to pressure on the Turkish lira, which has hit new
record lows since September due mostly to interest rate cuts.
The currency dipped slightly after Friday's ruling. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2SG0IR
The court ruled by a majority of votes to keep Kavala in
jail for the duration of his trial. It set the next hearing for
Jan. 17, adding it would evaluate his imprisonment on Dec. 23.
Kavala, who has been attending hearings via video link, did
not participate in Friday's hearing.
His wife, opposition lawmakers, and diplomats from some of
the 10 embassies involved in the row were in the packed
courtroom in Istanbul. The square outside the courthouse was
packed with dozens of riot police and water cannon vehicles.
NO 'FAIR TRIAL'
Deniz Tolga Aytore, Kavala's lawyer, said he supported his
client's decision not to join the hearings, saying his right to
a fair trial was being violated.
"We are being tried in political parties' group meetings,
and judicial officials are not doing anything about this.
Therefore our right to a fair trial is being violated," he said,
referring to parties' parliamentary groups.
Kavala was acquitted last year of charges related to
nationwide protests in 2013 focused on Istanbul's Gezi Park, but
the ruling was overturned this year and combined with charges in
another case related to a coup attempt in 2016. He has denied
any wrongdoing. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2JX49I
Aytore said Kavala's requests to be freed had been denied
over charges related to the 2013 protests, while his arrest was
based on espionage charges related to the 2016 coup attempt.
He also listed inconsistencies in the allegations with
reports by officials that refute the claims in the indictment.
Kavala, 64, is on trial with 51 others in a combination of
three separate cases over the 2013 protests and the 2016 coup
attempt against Erdogan and his government. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2R41UB
The ECHR called for Kavala's release in late 2019 over a
lack of reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence,
ruling that his detention served to silence him.
The Council of Europe has said it will begin infringement
proceedings against Turkey if Kavala is not released. This could
eventually lead to Turkey being expelled from the
body. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2QJ15O
Some European Union officials have said any deepening of
economic ties with Ankara, including updating their customs
union, is dependent on progress on human rights and the rule of
law in Turkey.
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NEWSMAKER-Osman Kavala, businessman at heart of Turkey standoff
with West urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2RK0CD
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Daren Butler, Giles
Elgood and Gareth Jones)
((ali.kucukgocmen@thomsonreuters.com , @alikucukgocmen;
+905319306206; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging:
ali.kucukgocmen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))