26.08.2026 00:51
A harsh reaction came from Presidential Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum to the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) decision regarding Osman Kavala. While criticizing the ECHR's decisions against Turkey, Uçum also targeted the European Parliament's Rapporteur on Turkey, Nacho Sanchez Amor, and conveyed the message that Turkey could reconsider the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the possibility of individual application to the ECHR.
Presidential Chief Advisor and Vice President of the Presidential Legal Policies Board Mehmet Uçum reacted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on Osman Kavala. Targeting the ECHR and European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor, Uçum said, "ECHR and Amor should know their place!"
"AS ECHR ISSUES POLITICAL PROJECT RULINGS, ITS VALUE FOR TURKEY DIMINISHES" Uçum, who made a statement on his social media account, argued that the independence of the national judiciary applies not only against domestic powers but also against international bodies.
Stating that the ECHR is not a superior or hierarchical judicial authority, Uçum said that international agreements and rulings cannot eliminate the fundamental nature of the national judiciary.
"THEIR RULINGS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE MERITS" Uçum also made assessments on how ECHR rulings should be implemented by national courts. He claimed that ECHR violation rulings require the relevant case to be re-examined, but national courts can make their own decisions by evaluating the merits of the ECHR ruling.
Uçum stated, "The authority to comply or not comply with violation rulings belongs to the relevant national courts."
Osman Kavala HARSH WORDS TOWARDS AMOR Uçum also criticized the statements of European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor, describing Amor's words as "insolent and baseless."
Nacho Sanchez Amor Uçum criticized European countries over racism, xenophobia, and refugee policies, arguing that Turkey will not accept external interference in its judicial independence.
"INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION TO ECHR AND ECHR MEMBERSHIP MAY BE REVIEWED" In the final part of his statement, Uçum gave a striking message. He said that if the ECHR continues to issue rulings against Turkey with political motives, Turkey could be forced to review its status as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights and the possibility of individual application to the ECHR.
Uçum stated that if such a situation occurred, "the collapse of the ECHR system would become inevitable."