The Turkish Constitutional Court has ruled that the freedom of expression of famous Turkish-Armenian sculptor Mehmet Aksoy has been violated. Aksoy is the creator of the Statue of Humanity, which was placed in Armenia’s bordering Kars and was dismantled after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to the statue as ‘perverse’ and ‘disgusting’ and called on removing it and building a garden in its place.

The Turkish Supreme Court had ordered to pay 20,000 Liras ($3483) as compensation to the sculpture for dismantling his statue, reports Ahval.

Aksoy had appealed to the Turkish Constitutional Court and made a reference to the restriction on his freedom of expression. The Court on Monday ruled that the authorities had overlooked the constitutional provisions concerning freedom of expression.

The verdict was announced in accordance with the Turkish court’s decision of 2015 according to which Erdogan had to pay Aksoy $4,000 as compensation.