The European Court of Human Rights told Turkey it must immediately release Osman Kavala, an activist and philanthropist who has spent almost ten years in prison.
Kavala was given a life sentence in 2022 on charges linked to the 2013 Gezi Park protests and a 2016 coup attempt, but civil‑society groups say the accusations are politically motivated.
The Court ruled that his continued detention violated his right to a fair trial, freedom of expression and association, and that the sentence amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment.
Turkey has historically used the judiciary to silence critics, and the Court pointed to a systemic pattern of detaining political opponents and human‑rights defenders.
Despite a third binding ECHR ruling, Ankara has yet to release Kavala, underscoring serious concerns about its rule of law commitments and its relationship with the Council of Europe.
