Turkish activist and businessman Osman Kavala received the European Council Human Rights Prize. Kavala has been imprisoned in Turkey since 2017. He was committed to, among other things, cultural diversity and activities related to Armenian and Kurdish culture.
Kavala was sentenced to life imprisonment last year. He is said to have participated in the failed coup in 2016. In 2017, he was arrested on charges of financing protests against the Turkish government in 2013. He was acquitted in 2020. Shortly after his acquittal, Kavala was arrested again. Then suddenly Türkiye came out with new accusations surrounding the failed coup.
Türkiye has been criticized several times for its treatment of Kavala. The European Court of Human Rights, part of the Council of Europe, ordered his release and compensation. Türkiye has not yet responded to this.
Members of the Council of Europe doubt whether Turkey can remain a member of the Council. In 2022, the Council voted to take a possible violation measure against Türkiye. If the European Court of Human Rights decides whether Turkey has not adhered to the agreements, the Council could take action, such as revoking Turkey’s voting rights.
The Council of Europe concludes agreements on people’s rights, the rule of law and democracy in Europe. The Council includes 46 members.
The Vaclav Havel Prize is awarded every three years. The winner gets 60 thousand euros. The award is named after Vaclav Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic. He was also a human rights activist and playwright.