Turkish General Staff denies coup d’état plot accusationsMarch 31, 2016 - 11:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish General Staff has denied allegations that some members of the military allegedly linked to the Fethullah Gülen movement were planning a coup d’état, according to a written statement issued Thursday, March 31, Hurriyet Daily News reports. Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish preacher, former imam, writer, and political figure. The founder of the Gülen movement, he currently lives in self-imposed exile in the United States. Gülen was an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan until 2013, when the alliance was destroyed after corruption investigations. He is currently on Turkey's most-wanted terrorist list and is accused of leading what the current Turkish government calls the Gulenist Terror Organisation. “Discipline, absolute obedience and single order command is essential in the Turkish Armed Forces. It is not possible for there to be any concessions to any illegal and out-of-command chain hierarchy establishment or action,” said the statement, adding that a legal process had been initiated and a criminal complaint filed against those who published news stories and comments spreading the allegations. In the statement, the Turkish Armed Forces emphasized that it voices its “loyalty to democracy” at every opportunity and that such “baseless” allegations “naturally demoralize military personnel.” The statement came during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the United States. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |