Osman Kavala

The Turkish president said on Oct. 23 that he instructed the foreign minister to declare 10 ambassadors persona non grata over their statement on the ongoing case of businessman Osman Kavala.

The envoys who called for Kavala's release "should either understand Turkey or they should leave," Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told a ceremony in the central Eskişehir province.

The ambassadors of the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden were arrived at the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday morning after issuing a joint statement calling for the release of philanthropist and human rights activist Osman Kavala.

Embassies of Turkey's Western allies, including the United States and Germany, called on Monday for the "urgent release" of philanthropist Osman Kavala, in an intervention Ankara described as "unacceptable", Reuters reports on Anadolu agency's news.

Turkey summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries over a statement on businessman Osman Kavala's detention, diplomatic sources said on Oct. 18. 

Turkey has criticized the United States for issuing a statement that demands the release of businessman and activist Osman Kavala and called on everyone to respect the ongoing judicial process.

An Istanbul court on Jan. 22 overturned the acquittal of nine defendants, including businessman Osman Kavala, in a case regarding Gezi Park events of 2013 that led to nationwide protests.

The 3rd Criminal Chamber of Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals made its decision on appeals against the acquittal ruling by the 30th Heavy Penal Court in Istanbul.

The Constitutional Court has rejected civil society activist and businessman Osman Kavala's appeal for his release pending trial on the grounds that his detention since late 2017 did not violate his right to liberty and security.

The General Assembly of Turkey's Constitutional Court, the country's highest, ruled on Dec. 29 that businessman Osman Kavala's detention did not violate his rights to liberty and security.

Kavala, 63, has been jailed since late 2017.

A criminal court in Turkey extended the detention of businessman Osman Kavala as part of a probe into the 2016 defeated coup.

The court also renewed the arrest warrant for fugitive Henri Barkey, who was a former CIA advisor.

Kavala and Barkey are both accused of "violating the constitution" and conducting "political or military espionage activities."

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener has said they are in favor of continuing the Nation Alliance, noting the rumors about the government aiming to make changes in the electoral system.