ECtHR Convicts Turkey of Testimony Without Attorney

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The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that the right to a fair trial of Ömer Güner, who made his testimony at the Security Directorate without a lawyer being present, has been violated.

As per the court verdict, Güner shall be paid a court expense of 31 Euro.

He was charged with "aiding and abetting"

Ömer Güner, the manager of a hotel at the time, was arrested in July 2002 by the counter-terrorism police officers as part of an operation against the Bolşevik Parti-Kuzey Kürdistan/Türkiye (Bolshevik Party-North Kurdistan/Turkey).

The police seized various left-wing materials found in his room. Speaking to the police without an attorney being present, Güner said that he had let two men linked to the Bolshevik Party stay at the hotel and use his car.

Güner was charged with aiding and abetting an illegal organization in 2002.

"I was convicted based on testimony made in the absence of an attorney"

Öner Güner was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the pressed charge. In the wake of Güner's objection being rejected, he applied to the ECtHR.

In his application, Güner stated that he had been denied legal assistance in the preliminary investigation stage, that his statements had been made under duress and that he had been convicted on the basis of testimony made in the absence of an attorney.

In its verdict announced today (September 4), the ECtHR acknowledged Güner to be right and sentenced Turkey to pay compensation. (AS/SD)