George Soros foundation to end Turkey operations after Erdogan attack

US billionaire George Soros said his foundation would cease its activities in Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the Hungarian-born philanthropist last week.

The Open Society Foundation said that new investigations by Turkish authorities were trying to create a link between it and anti-government protests in 2013.

"These efforts are not new and they are all completely false," the foundation added.

The executive board also pointed to the recent "increase in the number of baseless accusations and unbalanced speculations in the media against Open Society Foundation" which led the board to conclude that "continuing (its) work has become impossible".

The foundation said it would apply for its closure to the court "immediately", but insisted it conducted each operation in Turkey in compliance with the country's laws.

The move came after Erdogan on Wednesday accused Soros of supporting the jailed Turkish financier and philanthropist Osman Kavala who organised civil society events.

Kavala has been in prison for the past year awaiting trial. Without directly naming him, Erdogan claimed Kavala "financed the terrorists" during the anti-government protests.

Erdogan previously said Kavala was the representative in Turkey of the "famous Hungarian Jew Soros" whom he accused of trying to "divide and tear up nations”.

Kavala worked closely with foreign missions on civil society projects and his jailing has alarmed Turkey's Western allies as well raising concerns of a clampdown on freedom of expression under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Funding philanthropic projects across the world, Soros has become a favourite target of far-right extremists in many countries.

Activists have condemned the lack of an indictment over a year after Kavala's detention.

Turkish authorities suspect Kavala of "attempting to remove the constitutional order" and "attempting to overthrow the government" by "force or violence".

Turkey has faced repeated criticism it is cracking down on opponents of Erdogan in civil society, in particular in the wake of the 15 July 2016 failed coup bid.

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