Turkey’s Court of Cassation releases CHP MP Berberoğlu while upholding jail sentence

ANKARA

Turkey’s Court of Cassation has ruled for the release of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Enis Berberoğlu, while upholding his jail sentence. 

Berberoğlu was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2017 for espionage over charges of providing daily Cumhuriyet with a video purporting to show Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) trucking weapons into Syria.

In a retrial that finished on Feb. 13 of this year, Berberoğlu, who has denied the charges, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in jail.

The Court of Cassation approved the conviction and the jail term on Sept. 20, but ruled for Berberoğlu’s release until the end of his parliamentary term.

Berberoğlu was released from prison late Sept. 20.

The court’s ruling came after Berberoğlu’s lawyers said the MP was granted immunity from prosecution in the last election and that such a situation would stop the continuation of proceedings against him.

The Court of Cassation’s 16th Civil Chamber had rejected Berberoğlu’s appeal on Sept. 10, ruling that “being elected as a deputy for the second time does not grant immunity [from prosecution].