Court releases Turkish national accused of terrorism from pre-extradition detention

The Court of Appeals of Georgia has released Turkish national Mustafa Emre Cabuk from pre-extradition detention.

The verdict has been long demanded by the civil sector and the opposition, which believe Cabuk had nothing to do with the coup attempt in Turkey in 2016.

Cabuk was released from pre-extradition detention on 1,000 GEL bail. However, the release does not mean he will not be extradited to Turkey as he still has criminal charges against him. 

Cabuk was detained on May 24, 2017 on the demand of Turkey.

He is charged with having links to Fethullah Gulen, a theologian and former political figure living in the United States who is accused of orchestrating the military coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July, 2016. 

Cabuk refuses any links with the organization and says that he had been engaged only in educational activities in Georgia, serving as the quality manager of the Demirel College in Tbilisi.

Cabuk and his family have been living in Georgia since 2002.

The individual is asking for refugee status to stay in Georgia, as he believes his rights may be violated in his homeland.