Jailed general sends reproachful tweets

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Unreasonable claims may have caused us to be jailed today, Başbuğ says. AA photo

Former Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ, who is currently being held under arrest in connection with the Ergenekon case, sent a message on Twitter on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Victory Day, Aug. 30, questioning his imprisonment and that of other members of the military.

“I congratulate my dear nation and the Turkish Armed Forces, in which I have proudly served as a member for almost half a century, on Victory Day. This victory belongs to the Turkish nation and the Turkish Army, which sprang from its bosom,” Başbuğ tweeted.

Başbuğ sent the messages through his official Twitter account, @ilkerbasbugcom, which is managed by his family and lawyer. The account was set up after his arre

Başbuğ also mentioned that the 90th anniversary of Victory Day coincides with the 50th anniversary of his graduation from the Military Academy.

“Fifty years after our graduation from the Military Academy, my two classmates, Generals Hurşit Tolon and Fevzi Türkeri, and myself, are under arrest and in jail. Unreasonable claims and accusations may have caused us to be jailed today, but it will never be possible to erase from the memory of the Turkish nation the traces of our service of half a century, which included risking our lives,” Başbuğ said.

The Ergenekon case is investigating an alleged ultra-nationalist gang accused of planning to topple the government in a military coup.