Aegean Army commander's aide detained over suspected Gülen ties

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Rear admiral who resigned after Erdoğan's demotion says he was set up in 'Gülen-like plot'

Aegean Army Commander Lt. Gen. Ali Sivri's aide-de-camp was detained over his suspected links to the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, which is the group widely believed to have carried out the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt.

The aide, identified only as Major F.Ö., was detained on May 28 as part of an ongoing investigation carried out by İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).

F.Ö. is accused of having links to one of the Gülenist "imams," identified only as L.Ç.

“Imam,” which traditionally refers to a religious public worker, is a term used by the Gülenist organization to mark local leadership.

The Aegean Army, which also called the Fourth Army, is one of the four main formations of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). It was founded in 1975 in response to political and military tensions with neighboring Greece.

One current minister said they spent their whole lives with Gülenists: Former AKP lawmaker

Following the thwarted coup, hundreds of army personnel were arrested over their ties to the Gülen movement, which is officially called the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

Those arrested included aides of high-level army personnel, including then-Chief of the Turkish General Staff Hulusi Akar's aide Levent Türkkan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief aide-de-camp, Col. Ali Yazıcı, was also arrested following the takeover bid.

Another one was Former 2nd Army Commander Adem Huduti's aide, Sedat Kaya. Huduti was also arrested.