Kavala Says Coup Investigation Against Him 'Much More Unreasonable' than Gezi Trial

Photo: acileylem.org.tr

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The allegation of planning the failed 2016 coup attempt against Osman Kavala was "much more unreasonable" than the allegation that he planned the 2013 Gezi Park protests, the businessperson has said in a written statement.

Kavala on Tuesday (February 18) was acquitted of all charges in the Gezi trial but was not able to get out of prison as a prosecutor ordered his detention over the coup attempt on the same day. He has been in prison for 843 days now.

The continuation of his arrest indicated "malicious intentions," Kavala said in the statement he released through his lawyers.

He said his acquittal in the Gezi trial was a "positive step" although the court violated his rights by not releasing him despite a European Court of Human Rights decision.

"I was hoping that this would contribute to the understanding of the baseless fiction, lawlessness, practice of arrest in the Gezi case and the problems in the judiciary, thereby providing a restorative effect," he stated.

"But unfortunately, the interference by the President prevented this possibility, I was remanded in custody again with a more unlawful and unreasonable charge than the first one.

"The allegation that I had intense contact with Henri Barkey, which was the only basis of this offense that was charged with, was refuted long ago with communication record from the Security Directorate.

"The allegation that I am a planner of the July 15 coup attempt is far more unreasonable than the allegation that I planned and organized the Gezi Protests and it shows intense malicious intention.

"I hope that this new lawlessness I am subjected to will not last long and the damage to the judiciary will not be permanent."

What happened?

İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court on February 18 acquitted Kavala and ordered his release in the trial over the 2013 Gezi Park protests. On the same day, İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a detention warrant on him as part of an investigation into the failed coup attempt in July 2016. İstanbul 8th Penal Judgeship of Peace (court on duty) remanded him in custody on February 19. (HA/VK)