Aynacı was arrested in a tank used by putschist soldiers, who had come to seize the Istanbul Police Headquarters, on Vatan Street, on the evening of July 15. Aynacı, who was among the coup-making soldiers, fired his gun on people whilst dressed in a military uniform.
Aynacı was arrested on charges of "attempting to eliminate the constitutional order,” "being a member of an armed terrorist organization", "attempting to assassinate the President", "attempting to eliminate the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or to prevent it from performing its task,” “willful murder,” and “attempting to eliminate the government of the Turkish Republic or to prevent it from performing its task.”
Aynacı defended himself by saying, "I told them to go back to the military barracks. They fired. When gunshots increased, I threw myself into one of the armored vehicles.” Here is the testimony that Aynacı bore to the prosecutor's office:
"I told them to return to the military barracks"
"A message came around 10.00 p.m. We were asked to go to the directorate in full fig. I was close. We had our officers placed at the entrance of the monument. I asked what had been happening. They said there was a brawl between soldiers and the police. I saw four armored vehicles. I thought it was something trivial. The soldiers asked me to hand over my weapon. I did not accept. I spoke to the young commander who led them. They told me that they would seize the police headquarters. They made me talk to someone by phone. I told them they were wrong in whatever they were aiming for. I told them to return to the military barracks. I told the soldier using the vehicle in the lead that I would come to him and talk to him. I told them to go back to the military barracks. He fired. I ducked. When gunshots increased, I threw myself into one of the armored vehicles. There was a first lieutenant there. I told them to go.”
"An urban legend… I was in a police uniform”
Aynacı stated that he was only a mediator by adding, “I was wearing a police uniform. Things went out of hand. One soldier fired with a G-3. We were waiting for an officer, but no one came. A police commissioner came finally. I did not think that a coup would take place at that moment. As it was not possible to stage a coup in a place, where 5,000 policemen work, with four vehicles, the possibility of a coup did not cross my mind. As I experienced problems with several directors, I was assigned to a passive position. News about me has turned about an urban legend. I do not accept these accusations.”
Aynacı was the Director of the Istanbul Security Branch during the Gezi Park Protests.
Assigned as the Director of the Istanbul Security Branch on July 25, 2013, Aynacı served in this position for nearly six months and he also witnessed the Gezi Park Protests. He was later assigned Gebze Police Deputy Director. He was laid off on Nov. 1, 2014 on the grounds that he was a FETÖ and Parallel State Structure (PDY) member and he was dismissed from the profession. He was reinstated as a result of the suit he brought, but was not given a new task or reassigned.
