Ex-ECHR Judge: Turkey Must Implement Kavala Ruling or Abandon Rule of Law

Rıza Türmen, a former judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), has issued a stark warning to Ankara following the court’s latest ruling on jailed activist Osman Kavala. Speaking on the Grand Chamber’s decision, Türmen stated that Turkey has no choice but to comply. “If Turkey has the slightest connection to the rule of law, it must implement this ruling,” he said. The Grand Chamber’s decision, delivered on Tuesday, is final and binding. It found that Turkey violated Kavala’s rights, marking the latest chapter in a long-running legal saga. Türmen’s comments add weight to the ruling, as he is a former top judge at the Strasbourg-based court. His assessment suggests that failure to act would sever Turkey’s remaining ties to legal standards. The case centers on Kavala, a businessman and philanthropist who has been in prison for over six years without a final conviction. The ECHR has repeatedly called for his release. Türmen framed the issue not as a political dispute, but as a fundamental test of legal integrity. His words imply that the credibility of Turkey’s own Constitutional Court is also at stake. The ruling places Turkey in a difficult position. It must decide whether to follow the international court’s order or maintain its current legal stance.