Today, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) confirmed that Turkey has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 46 § 1 of the Convention to comply with the Chamber judgment delivered by the Court in the case of Kavala v. Turkey on 10 December 2019.
The Grand Chamber has reconfirmed that Mr. Kavala’s detention has been politically motivated and an attempt to silence him and dissuade other human rights defenders. His recent unjust conviction is inconsistent with respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
As a long-standing member of the Council of Europe, Turkey urgently needs to make concrete and sustained progress in the respect of fundamental rights. Turkey’s continued refusal to implement these rulings increases the EU’s concerns regarding the Turkish judiciary’s adherence to international and European standards.
The EU urges Turkey to follow-up on the Council of Europe’s recommendations regarding strengthening the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, and implement the pending ECtHR judgements, in particular the one that calls for Mr. Kavala’s immediate release.
Source – EEAS