Controversial businessman Osman Kavala has supported numerous civil society organisations in Turkey. Kavala has established several publishing companies in the country. Kavala was also a founding member of George Soros’ dreaded Open Society Foundation in Turkey.
In November 2017, government arrested Kavala for Gezi Park protests in 2013 and attempted coup in 2016 to overthrow Erdogan’s government which failed. In December 2019, The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Turkey to release him immediately. But Turkey has so far refused to acknowledge the ruling made by the ECHR.
In September 2020, Kavala was remanded to detention on the charge of “political or military espionage”. Council of Europe warned of infringement proceedings if Kavala was not released by December this year.
On 25 October 2021, ambassadors from 10 western countries called on Turkey to release Kavala. Erdoğan slammed the ambassadors’ and threatened to expel them.
As the events threatened to blow up resulting in a diplomatic crisis, Erdogan on 26 October withheld the move to expel the ambassadors and said that he only wanted to uphold sovereignty of Turkey and demanded that the western countries do not interfere in the internal matters.
The Western nations then agreed to comply with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and promised that their concern for Kavala will not end up interfering in the internal affairs of Turkey. Thus, a diplomatic crisis was averted after both the sides stood down from their stands.
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra