Former Commander of Air Forces Öztürk Denying Accusations Arrested

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Former Commander of Air Forces Akın Öztürk taken into custody with Ankara Chief Prosecution demanding his arrest upon coup attempt on July 15  has been arrested along with other 25 suspects after questioning before criminal court of peace.

Öztürk has denied having planned the military coup and stated that he had not talked to the officers who were involved in it.

Full General Öztürk was assigned to the Air Forces Command in 2015 upon many commanders getting arrested following the Balyoz operation. After serving as the commander for two years, he has handed over his position to Full General Abidin Ünal in August 2015. Full General Öztürk has been a member of the Supreme Military Council in the last year of his service. He was going to be pensioned off in August 30.  

Anadolu Agency has corrected its article

State-run Anadolu Agency (AA) had announced yesterday (July 18) that Akın Öztürk had reportedly stated that he had taken action with the purpose of staging a coup yet has later corrected its report.

Denied accusations in his testimony

Öztürk’s statement before prosecution has leaked to press:

“I am not the person who has planned and leaded the military coup attempt on July 15. I don’t know who has planned and leaded the this military coup. On the day of the incident the daughter of a friend had a wedding and I was supposed to attend it. But I couldn’t go to İstanbul. I couldn’t go there because of some work I had in the notary. I can prove that I had some works done in the notary. My works were finished at around 11.30 in İzmir. Than I arrived at Ankara on a military helicopter together with the Commander of Land Forces. I directly went to Akıncı Base to see my grandchildren. I have spent time in the housings in Akıncı Base till evening”.

Öztürk has added that he had gone to the Chief of General Staff in five minutes after he was informed about the developments.

Parallel structure’s work

“According to my experiences, I think that this coup attempt has been undertaken by the parallel structure. But I can’t predict who within the Turkish Armed Forces has organized and carried it out”.

Öztürk has added that he has put an immense effort in keeping followers of the structure out of his units.

Foreign missions might have a hand in it

“I don’t know many persons from this structure there are in the Turkish Armed Forces and Air Forces Command. The military coup attempt might be the work of foreign missions who aim for such a weak Turkey. The person in Pennsylvania [Fethullah Gülen] does not have the power to give such an order and have it carried out. The parallel structure might have been used in this”.