European Court of Human Rights to announce decision on Osman Kavala on Aug. 25

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) scheduled an open hearing for 25 August in Strasbourg to announce its ruling on the second application filed by Turkish businessman Osman Kavala on 18 January 2024. Kavala, detained since October 2017 in connection with the Gezi Park protests, previously appealed to the ECHR, which in December 2019 found Turkey in violation of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to liberty and security and the right to a speedy trial, and ordered his immediate release. Turkey failed to comply, prompting infringement proceedings by the Council of Ministers in February 2022. In his latest application, Kavala alleged further breaches of the Convention, citing violations of rights against torture, fair trial, freedom of expression, assembly, and restrictions on rights. The upcoming hearing will determine the Court’s response to these claims and reaffirm the binding obligations of Turkey under Article 46 of the Convention.