The Open Society Foundation, founded by billionaire George Soros, announced on Monday that it is suspending all its activities in Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the philanthropist of collaborating with the protests that shook his government in the summer of 2013 in Istanbul.
The foundation expressed regret that the „baseless“ accusations spread in the Turkish media in recent days have hindered the development and activity of the organization in the country. Sources from Open Society also stated that the Turkish Ministry of Interior is preparing a report to demonstrate Soros‘ connection to the Gezi protests five years ago.
According to Open Society, they have been trying to prove some kind of relationship for a long time, but they are mistaken. Therefore, Soros‘ organization has decided to seek legal liquidation and reduce all its activities as soon as possible.
One of the founders of Open Society in Turkey, Hakan Altinay, was arrested ten days ago and accused, along with 13 others, of supporting Osman Kavala, an anti-government activist who participated in the Gezi mobilizations. Kavala, who has been in prison for over a year, is a businessman and social leader accused of financing the protests. „The person who financed the terrorists during the Gezi incidents is already in prison,“ Erdogan announced a week ago.
„Who is behind him [Kavala]? The famous Hungarian Jew Soros. He is the man who chooses people to divide and destroy nations. He has a lot of money and spends it this way,“ the president concluded.
The protests in Istanbul in 2013 began as a protest against a new urban plan that aimed to turn Gezi Park in Taksim into a shopping center. In a few days, it turned into a large-scale movement against Erdogan’s policies. The police responded with violence against the protesters, resulting in five deaths.
In conclusion, the suspension of Open Society’s activities in Turkey due to Erdogan’s accusations highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and civil society organizations in the country. The Gezi protests of 2013 remain a significant moment in Turkish history, symbolizing the struggle for democratic rights and freedoms. The impact of Soros‘ philanthropic work and the backlash it faces in certain political contexts underscore the challenges faced by organizations promoting open societies in increasingly authoritarian environments.