Kılıçdaroğlu says Turkey’s SADAT is similar to Russia’s Wagner

Duvar English

Commenting on the rebel Russian mercenary group Wagner's advance inside the Russian territory, main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stated, “I hope what happened in Russia will be a lesson because Russia's Wagner is Turkey's (International Defense Consultancy) SADAT Inc.. I declare once again we will not allow any paramilitary structure that is an enemy of the people."

The SADAT, which was founded by retired soldiers and allegedly transported weapons to the radical Islamist terrorist organization al-Nusra in Syria, defines itself as "a company that provides consultancy and military training in the field of defense." 

Kılıçdaroğlu reminded that he went in front of SADAT's headquarters in Istanbul in 2022 to make a statement, "I repeatedly warned the government about the SADAT. I said that they wanted to destroy the Republic of Turkey and change its language, flag, and constitution."

Kılıçdaroğlu in 2022 stated that the SADAT is a paramilitary organization that gives training on irregular warfare, sabotage, raids, ambushes, and assassination. 

On the other hand, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed support for the Russian state against Wagner's rebellion.

In the early hours of June 24, Yevgeniy Prigojin, the owner of the Wagner company, launched a rebellion with mercenaries fighting in Ukraine and advanced on Russian territory. They announced that they ceased their advancement on the same day. 

SADAT was founded in 2012 by former Turkish brigadier general Adnan Tanrıverdi, who was expelled from the military in 1996 because of his suspicions about Islamist activities.

Tanrıverdi served as an adviser to Erdoğan before being forced to resign from his post in January 2020 after telling a religious conference that SADAT was paving the way for the coming of the Mahdi, a messianic figure some Muslims believe will redeem mankind before the world ends.