8 embassies: We maintain compliance with the Vienna Convention

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After President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that 10 ambassadors who called for Osman Kavala's release would be declared "personae non gratae" in Turkey, a new development occurred today (October 25).

The US Embassy in Turkey posted a brief message on its Twitter account, saying in Turkish and English: "In response to questions regarding the Statement of October 18, the United States notes that it maintains compliance with Article 41 of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

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— U.S. Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) October 25, 2021

"Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State," the Article 41/1 of the Convention says.

The same message has also been shared by the embassies of Canada and the Netherlands. The embassies of Finland, Sweden, Norway and New Zealand have retweeted the statement of the US Embassy.

France: No official notification

No statement has so far been made by Germany and France, the embassies of which also signed the statement calling for Kavala's release. A few hours ago, the Foreign Ministry of France announced that they received no official notification about the "persona non grata" decision.

AA: Erdoğan has welcomed the news

Following the statement of the US Embassy and other embassies that followed suit, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) of Turkey has reported that "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the announcements by embassies, according to presidential sources."

Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

1.Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.

2.All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.

3.The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.

What happened?

October 18, 2021 marked the fourth year since the businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala was detained in Turkey.

On this occasion, the embassies of 10 countries released a written statement calling for his release by specifically referring to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings about his case.

Shortly after this statement was shared with the public, some ministers and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) politicians denounced it. The state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) also reported that the ambassadors of the 10 countries had been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey over their statement calling for Osman Kavala's release.

President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also slammed the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the US, Germany and France, who had called for the release of Osman Kavala.

"Why do these 10 ambassadors make this statement? Those who defend this leftover of [George] Soros are striving to get him released," Erdoğan said upon his visit from Africa and briefly added: " "I told our foreign minister that we can't have the luxury to host those in our country. [...] Is it your place to teach lessons to Turkey? Who are you?"

"The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) gave a decision. They want to convict Turkey regarding this Soros leftover," Erdoğan remarked. "Do you release bandits, killers or terrorists in your country?"

In response to these remarks, Osman Kavala sent a message from prison and briefly said, "Under these circumstances, as there has remained no possibility for a fair trial, I believe that my participation in the hearings and presenting a defense would now be meaningless."

In another speech on October 23, Erdoğan said that "he had ordered 10 ambassadors to be declared persona non grata."

"I gave the necessary instructions to our minister of foreign affairs. I told him what to do. I said that you will deal with these 10 ambassadors being declared persona non grata as soon as possible," Erdoğan said.

President and AKP Chair Erdoğan added that "the ambassadors should leave the country if they do not understand Turkey." (HA/SD)