Ergenekon, Balyoz plot cases merged with July 15 coup attempt probe dossier
ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency
Istanbul prosecutors have decided to include the Ergenekon, Balyoz and Military Espionage investigations and prosecutions, which saw the arrest and trial of hundreds of mostly military personnel, in the main July 15 coup attempt investigation dossier upon the suspicion that all these former cases constituted the deadly takeover bid’s preparation actions. Upon deciding to merge the three series of investigations and prosecutions with the July 15 coup attempt dossier, Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to Turkish General Staff, asking it to examine its records and report back on a number of issues while posing a number of questions regarding the legal process.
The letter said there were suspicions that the Ergenekon, Balyoz and Military Espionage investigations and prosecutions were carried out by chief public prosecutor’s offices’ and heavy penal courts’ judges, prosecutors and security members who were allegedly members of the “terrorist organization,” referring to the Gülen movement, which was blamed for the July 15 failed takeover, and targeted soldiers who were not members of this organization. During these lengty cases initiated in 2008, hundreds of suspects were charged with forming an organizations in order to overthrow the ruling Jusitce and Development Party (AKP) government. It also said there were claims that during these legal processes counterfeit and manipulated evidences were used and in this way, military personnel who were not members of the organization were targeted for dismissal or retirement from the military.
The letter said there were suspicions that the Ergenekon, Balyoz and Military Espionage investigations and prosecutions were carried out by chief public prosecutor’s offices’ and heavy penal courts’ judges, prosecutors and security members who were allegedly members of the “terrorist organization,” referring to the Gülen movement, which was blamed for the July 15 failed takeover, and targeted soldiers who were not members of this organization. During these lengty cases initiated in 2008, hundreds of suspects were charged with forming an organizations in order to overthrow the ruling Jusitce and Development Party (AKP) government. It also said there were claims that during these legal processes counterfeit and manipulated evidences were used and in this way, military personnel who were not members of the organization were targeted for dismissal or retirement from the military.
