European rights court says Turkey did not comply with ruling to release philanthropist

Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala, center, was sentenced to life in prison for trying to overthrow the government by financing protests in 2013. (Anadolu Culture Center/AFP)

• Moves process forward that could lead to Ankara’s suspension from the Council of Europe

ISTANBUL: Europe’s top rights court said on Monday that Turkey had not complied with a ruling that called for the release of philanthropist Osman Kavala, moving further in a process that could lead to Ankara’s suspension from the Council of Europe (CoE).
The Committee of Ministers of the CoE, which oversees the implementation of the rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) referred the case back to the court in February.