https://ahvalnews.com-Turkey needs to find a formula to meet the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) legal demands for jailed politician Selahattin Demirtaş and philanthropist Osman Kavala, said Hayati Yazıcı, a deputy chief of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“Turkey accepts European Court of Human Rights’ judgments, and needs to find a formula to meet their requirements,” Yazıcı told columnist Hande Fırat in an interview published in the Hürriyet newspaper on Tuesday.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled for Kavala’s immediate release, along with Demirtaş, the imprisoned former co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic People’s Party (HDP) and a strong critic of Erdoğan.
Kavala, behind bars without a conviction since 2017, is accused of espionage and plotting to overthrow the government by organising the 2013 Gezi Park demonstration in Istanbul, which ballooned into nationwide protests against Erdoğan’s government. Demirtaş is convicted of terrorism and has been imprisoned since 2016.
Turkish courts have ignored the ECHR’s rulings, which its judges say are based on respect for human rights, pluralism and political freedoms. As a member of the Council of Europe (CoE), Turkey has legal obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that the court’s rulings are binding for CoE member states.
“I don’t find it right to comment on the issue for not influencing the judicial process, while the trials are in progress, but I have always believed that members of the judiciary don’t give verdicts that are not needed,” Yazıcı said.
The CoE has begun disciplinary proceedings against Turkey and referred it back to the ECHR over its refusal to implement the court’s judgement calling for Kavala’s release. The ECHR will now assess whether Turkey is in breach of its legal obligations as a CoE member.
The ECHR’s final decision is expected in September and could result in the suspension of Turkey’s voting rights in the CoE or its membership of the organisation.