Erdoğan defends verdict in Gezi trial, calls Kavala 'Soros of Turkey'

Erdoğan with Soros in 2005.

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called Osman Kavala, who received an aggravated life sentence in the Gezi Park case, the "George Soros of Turkey."

Speaking at an iftar event with NGO representatives yesterday (April 27), the president remarked, "Who was this man? He was the Soros of Turkey. This man was the coordinator of the Gezi events behind the scenes. The decision given by the judiciary troubled some circles."

On Monday, a court sentenced Kavala for "organizing and financing" the countrywide anti-government protests in 2013, and handed 18-year prison sentences to seven other defendants for "aiding" him. One of the judges was revealed to be a former prospective parliamentary candidate of the AKP.

The verdict caused international criticism, including from rights groups, the Council of Europe, the EU and the US.

"There were also suggestions for us abroad. We told them that our country is a state of law," said Erdoğan. "This verdict has been given. You will now be subject to this."

The president also mentioned the court verdict as the "final judgment" although it can be appealed.

He repeated the pro-government fake news from 2013 that the protesters "drank beer" in the yard of a mosque in Dolmabahçe, İstanbul, which had been refuted by a cleric of the mosque. (AEK/VK)