EU Delegation to Turkey 'continues to follow trial of Kavala'

Photo: EU Delegation to Turkey

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The EU Delegation to Turkey continues to follow the trial of Osman Kavala, a businessperson and rights advocate who has been in prison for over four years, the head of the delegation has said.

"We continue to follow this case and convey the necessary diplomatic works to our center," Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut said today (January 20) at a meeting with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association in Ankara, the capital.

When asked about whether the "persona non grata" crisis following the hearing in October was the reason for the EU's silence after the last hearing on Tuesday, the ambassador said their stance did not change.

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The delegation follows the trial and posts about it on social media, Meyer-Landrut noted, adding that Germany also made a statement about the court's verdict to keep Kavala in prison, according to a report by the ANKA News Agency. There were no posts about the last hearing of the Gezi trial or the situation of Kavala on the delegation's Twitter account.

All the members of the Council of Europe are expected to abide by their obligations and respect the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Council, he said.

Turkey submits defense to Council of Europe

When asked about the infringement proceedings initiated due to Turkey's failure to implement the ECtHR verdict for the release of Kavala, the ambassador refused to talk about "hypothetical developments in the future."

Meanwhile, Ankara has submitted its defense regarding the infringement process.

Turkey's response will be on the agenda of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on February 2.

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In the event that Osman Kavala is not released, the Committee of Ministers will apply to the ECtHR. If the ECtHR rules that the infringement proceedings shall be brought against Turkey, possible infringement proceedings against Turkey will start to be discussed.

The next hearing of the Gezi trial will take place on February 21. (HA/VK)