Turkish Defense Ministry suspends 262 military judges and prosecutors as full investigation launched

ANKARA

The Turkish Defense Ministry suspended a total of 262 military judges and prosecutors on July 20, as part of an investigation launched into all military judges and prosecutors.

The ministry announced the investigation into all military judges and prosecutors had been launched as a part of the ongoing probe into the failed coup attempt of July 15.

Meanwhile, a total of 21 military judges, including five staff colonels and nine members of the military court of appeals, military high administrative court and the Defense Ministry, were taken under supervision by the instruction of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on July 21.

The ministry also suspended one deputy undersecretary, one major general, two brigadiers and one rear admiral from their duties.

In addition, a total of 900 police officers were also suspended from their duties in the capital Ankara for having links to the Gülen movement, blamed for orchestrating the failed coup attempt on July 15.

Meanwhile, thousands of public personnel at the prime minister’s office, the Turkish parliament and various ministries were also suspended from their duties.

A total of 257 personnel who were working at the prime minister’s office’s additional building were suspended and their identities were taken. 230 of the suspended were rapporteurs, 19 were experts, six were advisers and the two were legal advisers.

Meanwhile, eight top level executives in the Turkish parliament were removed from duty, while the duty areas of two others have been changed, as the government intensifies its crackdown on the Gülen movement.

In addition, 15,200 personnel in the Education Ministry, 8,777 personnel in the Interior Ministry, 1,500 personnel in the Finance Ministry and 300 personnel in the Energy and Natural Sources Ministry were suspended from their duties.

Youth and Sports Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç announced that 245 personnel within his ministry had been laid off, while the Energy Ministry and Customs Ministry said they had ended the duties of 300 and 184 employees, respectively.