Greek MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis has submitted an official question to the European Commission demanding European Union action over Turkey's refusal to release imprisoned civil society activist Osman Kavala.
Kefalogiannis, who serves as chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, called on the EU executive to outline what steps it will take to compel Ankara to comply with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights.
The initiative comes after the Strasbourg-based human rights court ordered Turkish authorities to release Kavala as soon as possible, ruling that his conviction and life imprisonment sentence were null and void.
Judicial violations and compensation order
The European Court of Human Rights also ordered Turkey to pay Kavala an amount exceeding 110,000 euros in compensation. In its judgment, the international court pointed to grave violations during the judicial process that resulted in his imprisonment.
Highlighting key findings from the decision, Kefalogiannis stated that the court judged Ankara's refusal to set Kavala free, despite earlier rulings, as a direct threat to judicial integrity. The judges concluded that Turkey's stance does not merely erode public and social trust in the rule of law, but also violates the constitutional order.
Candidate status and European standards
Kefalogiannis is a member of the European Parliament representing Greece's ruling center-right New Democracy party and sits with the European People's Party group. In his parliamentary role overseeing bilateral ties between Brussels and Ankara, he stressed that Turkey remains a candidate country seeking accession to the European Union.
Kavala, a prominent Turkish businessman and philanthropist, has remained incarcerated despite widespread international criticism and repeated legal directives calling for his freedom. Accession criteria for prospective EU member states strictly require candidates to uphold human rights standards and enforce binding judicial decisions.
Commission action requested
The Greek politician formally asked the European Commission to specify what concrete measures it plans to implement to ensure Ankara fulfills its legal obligations under the European Court of Human Rights ruling.
