European court orders Turkey to release philanthropist Osman Kavala
25.08.2026,
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Turkey has violated the rights of philanthropist Osman Kavala and ordered his immediate release, according to a press release.
The judgment found that Kavala's prosecution and conviction were aimed at silencing him, violating his rights to a fair trial. Judges also cited "objectively justified doubts" as to the independence of Turkey's courts.
Kavala has been held in a high-security prison since 2017. He was sentenced in April 2022 to life without parole for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government over his role in the popular 2013 Gezi Park protests.
The court also found his continued detention amounted to inhuman or degrading treatment.
The ECHR first ordered Kavala's release in 2019. Turkish courts did not comply, prompting the Council of Europe to launch infringement proceedings against Ankara.
Tuesday's judgment is final. ECHR rulings are binding on Turkey, which has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1950.
Kavala founded the cultural organization Anadolu Kultur and won the Council of Europe's Havel Human Rights Prize in 2023.
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