NEWS CENTER -  The EC Committee of Ministers demanded the immediate release of Selahattin Demirtaş and that the Constitutional Court decide on the applications in line with the ECtHR decision.

 

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which monitors whether the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) are implemented or not, held its session on 30 November-2 December regarding businessperson Osman Kavala, who was not released despite the ECHR decision, and former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and announced its decisions. The Committee demanded that a violation process be initiated for Turkey regarding Kavala, and gave the government time until January 19 to present its case. The committee also demanded the immediate release of Demirtaş.

 

Benan Molu, one of Demirtaş's lawyers, shared the following on her Twitter regarding the verdicts: "The Committee of Ministers officially started the process of violation according with the Article 46/4 of the ECHR against Turkey, since Osman Kavala was not released despite the decisions of the ECHR and the Committee. The Committee of Ministers took an interim decision regarding Selahattin Demirtaş, evaluated the action plan presented by the Government, ordered Demirtaş to be released immediately, and the Constitutional Court to make a decision as soon as possible in lie with the ECtHR decision. It also asked the ECHR to decide on the applications in line with the decision. 

 

In the Demirtaş decision, the Committee also demanded legislative amendments to ensure the independence of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) and the judiciary, to strengthen pluralism and especially the freedom of expression of elected politicians from opposition, and to take measures against arbitrary arrests under Turkish Penal Code (TCK) No 314.