Turkish courts reject Kavala retrial despite ECHR ruling

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court has rejected requests for the release and retrial of businessman Osman Kavala, despite a ruling from the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) declaring his rights violated. The court ruled that the ECHR does not act as a court of appeal and that the evaluation of evidence remains within the jurisdiction of national courts. Kavala, who has been imprisoned since 2017 in connection with the Gezi Park protests, remains in custody under his existing sentence.

In a separate development involving the Gezi Park cases, the Constitutional Court of Turkey issued a second violation ruling regarding urban planner Dr. Tayfun Kahraman. The high court forwarded the decision to the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, emphasizing that the local court is obligated to implement the ruling and initiate retrial proceedings without requiring further applications from the defense. Kahraman has expressed his desire to prove his innocence through a new trial.