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Erdogan ordered the expulsion of 10 ambassadors, including from the United States, who called for the release of a businessman from prison
Turkish president angry over Western ambassadors' statement of support for Osman Kavala, accused of involvement in the 2016 coup attempt after being funded by demonstrations against Erdogan in 2013: "They should be declared undesirable."
The move is expected to exacerbate tensions between Ankara and Washington and Europe
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Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
United States
Reuters
Saturday, October 23, 2021, 6:05 p.m.
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Erdogan and Biden at NATO summit in Brussels, June (Photo: Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today (Saturday) that he had ordered the Foreign Ministry to declare ten Western ambassadors an "undesirable personality" due to their call for the release of businessman Osman Kawala from prison. Kawala has been incarcerated since the end of 2017 on charges of funding demonstrations in 2013 and involvement in the 2016 failed coup. He denies the allegations against him.
In a joint statement released Monday, the ambassadors of the United States, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand called for a "just and quick solution" to the philanthropist's case. They were summoned for a clarification call by the Foreign Ministry in Ankara, which called their statement irresponsible.
"I gave the necessary instruction to our foreign minister and said what should be done: these ten ambassadors should be declared an undesirable personality at once. Arrange this immediately," Erdogan said in a speech to an audience in Eskisehirsh in northwestern Turkey.
Cavallo was acquitted last year of charges related to demonstrations against Erdogan in 2013, but the verdict was overturned this year and combined with charges in another case related to the coup attempt.
Human rights groups claim his case is a symbol of the oppression of the opposition in Turkey under Erdogan's rule.
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