At the start of the new trial in Istanbul on Friday, civil rights activist Osman Kavala sharply criticized the accusations against him.

“None of the charges in this indictment are based on any facts, evidence, or objective evaluation of a concrete criminal act. These are allegations that are in stark contrast to my worldview, ethical values, and the goals of the projects carried out by the civil society organizations under my supervision,” Kavala said.

Kavala further stated: “The fact that I have been detained for years based on such bizarre allegations, despite the violation decision of the European Court of Human Rights, the acquittal decision of the local court and the two releases, is not just a simple violation of rights; it has become an ongoing torment.

I hope this indictment, which includes the most extreme examples of unfounded, non-substantiated, and illogical charges leading to our citizens’ deprivation of their freedom, will be the last one of its kind.”

Osman Kavala, who has been imprisoned for more than three years, was initially acquitted in February of charges of attempting to overthrow the government in connection with the anti-government Gezi protests of 2013. Just hours after his acquittal, the 63-year-old was arrested again. In the new proceedings, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is again accusing him of an attempted coup, this time in connection with the coup attempt in July 2016, as well as political or military espionage.

Kavala was not present in person at today's start of the trial; instead, he was included in the hearing via video-conferencing system from the high-security Silivri prison. Six witnesses were heard in the trial, including Pınar Arıkan Sinkaya and Bayram Sinkaya. The couple had attended an academic seminar on Iran at a hotel on Prince Büyükada Island in the Sea of Marmara on July 15, 2016, the day of the alleged coup attempt. The workshop was led by U.S. academic Henri Barkey, who the Erdoğan government said was "the real string puller" behind the coup. Barkey is a co-defendant in the Kavala trial. All witnesses were explicitly asked whether Kavala was present at the seminar, which he was not.

The trial was attended by numerous journalists and members of civil society, as well as diplomatic representatives from various countries, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the USA. At the request of the prosecution, the court ruled that Kavala remain in pre-trial detention. The trial is scheduled to resume on February 5.