Turkey requests immediate extradition of key FETÖ suspects from Kyrgyzstan

Hande Fırat - ANKARA

Makam otomobilini durdurarak kendisini bekleyen Türk ve Kırgızların yanına giden Başkan Erdoğan, bir süre onlarla sohbet etti.

During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, the Turkish delegation provided the Bishkek government with a list of a total 130 of FETÖ suspects and demanded immediate extradition of 13 people with links to FETÖ, which Turkey says is behind the failed 2016 coup attempt. 

One of the major issues the Turkish and Kyrgyz delegations discussed was the presence of FETÖ in Kyrgyzstan. Most senior FETÖ suspects who are responsible for operations in the Central Asia are believed to be based there.

Security sources said previous officials in Kyrgyzstan had not fought strong enough with FETÖ, thus FETÖ suspects have exploited loopholes in the Kyrgyz system and have found room to maneuver.

According to sources, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov sees FETÖ as a threat and cooperates with Turkish officials.

“Turkey has a list of people with FETÖ links who live in Kyrgyzstan. This list was given to the Kyrgyz authorities. We particularly want the extradition of 13 people on this list. These are senior figures within FETÖ, including the ‘imam’ of Central Asia. We have all the information on this individual, including his name, his address, his job, everything. He has no place to hide,” a senior Turkish official told Hürriyet.

“Many countries, including Kyrgyzstan, are aware of how deep the infiltration of FETÖ is, such as ‘covert imams.’ We have been explaining the situation and will continue to do so,” the official added.

Turkey is determined to further enhance bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan while rescuing it from “the shadow of FETÖ,” Erdoğan said on Sept. 2 at a ceremony at Manas University in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

Separately, in a speech he delivered at the Sixth Turkic Council Summit in Kyrgyzstan, Erdoğan warned the Turkic states against FETÖ and called for a common stance against the group.

“We especially attach great importance for the elimination of FETÖ. What we have gone through over the past five years has openly and clearly shown to our friends as well as to us that it is imperative for us not to be late in the fight against FETÖ,” he said.