Osman Kavala, accused of trying to overthrow the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would not benefit from any pardon of the sentence, the judges determined, whose verdict, stated after less than an hour of deliberation, was accepted by boos. in the courtroom and the weeping of his loved ones.

He was just acquitted of the espionage case. His lawyers indicated their intention to appeal.

Human Rights Watch representative Emma Sinclair-Webb, who was present in court, denounced on Twitter the worst possible result. Terrible, cruel and demonic.

Amnesty International’s Europe director Nils Muiznieks, in a statement blew up a parody of justice WHO disobey common sense.

Earlier, at the close of the proceedings, Osman Kavala – who has always denied the allegations against him – denounced a judicial murder against his persona.

Conspiracy theories, advanced for political and ideological reasons, have precluded an unbiased analysis of events and [les ont] detached from realityhe launched before the judges retreated.

Turkish civil society figure, Osman Kavala, 64, has been accused of seeking to overthrow the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan by funding so-called anti-government demonstrations The movement of Gezi in 2013 and during the failed coup in July 2016.

Inquisitive judges

It was from the high -security prison of Silivri, outside Istanbul, by videoconference and dressed as usual in an impeccable white shirt, that he complied with the pleas on Monday and heard the verdict, returned the epilogue of a judicial soap opera. from month to month.

The businessman’s three lawyers, a publisher and a philanthropist, specifically argued that he was not questioned by the judges. where he is during the actions for which he was charged.

No test: you didn’t ask Osman Kavalalaunched Me Tolga Aytöre. Not even: “did you go to Gezi Park?”the center of protests in 2013 that spread across the country.

Also, the last defender to speak, Ilkan Koyuncu, recalled that Kavala was accused of having a role in the coup attempt in 2016, but no one asked him where he was the night of the coup.

During the pleadings, the representative of the Pen Club, an association for the defense of freedom of expression, Caroline Stockford, asked the judges to drop their phone to listen to the defense, indicating that they receive their orders on screen.

Appearing in court on Friday, Osman Kavala denounced President Erdogan’s influence in his trial.

His seven co -accused – who appear to be at large – were sentenced to 18 years in prison, accused of supporting him.

Human rights activists hope the release will send a positive signal as Turkey tries to facilitate talks between Ukraine and Russia. Especially since President Erdogan simultaneously welcomed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Ankara.

Like every audience, a dozen Western diplomats were present to show their support for the man who became the pet peeve of the Erdogan regime.

In prison since 2017

named the red billionaire of his detractors, Osman Kavala, born in Paris, was arrested in October 2017.

Acquitted in February 2020 of charges related to the 2013 protests, the publisher was arrested hours later-even before returning home-then sent back to prison, this time accused of seeking overthrow the government during the failed putsch in July 2016, as well as espionage.

His acquittal was then overturned by Turkish courts, but the regular renewal of his detention made him a hero of the opposition to President Erdogan.

” Spending four and a half years of my life in prison will never pay off. The only thing that can comfort me is to contribute to the revelation of the grave errors of Turkish justice. “

The Kavala affair triggered a diplomatic crisis in the autumn, with Ankara threatening to expel a dozen Western ambassadors, including Canada and the United States, who called for his release.

In February, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) launched a infringement proceedings against Turkey.

Last month, prosecutors requested his conviction for attempt to overthrow of the government, life sentence without the possibility of early release.