Turkey’s key coup attempt trial begins

The trial of 486 suspects linked to Akıncı Air Base, which was used as the headquarters of the July 15 coup perpetrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), began on Tuesday. The trial was held in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, in a courtroom built exclusively for the coup trials.

Among those on trial are former air commander Akın Öztürk and coup leaders Kemal Batmaz, Kubilay Selçuk and Mehmet Dişli, who confessed that they administered the coup.

The trial is set to continue through Aug. 19.

The suspects are being charged for violating the constitution, taking generals captive, bombing key offices such as the parliament building and Special Forces Headquarters, and commanding the air operations of the coup attempt.

Among the plaintiffs are President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and Gen. Hulusi Akar. There are a total of 438 plaintiffs in the case.

Security measures taken during the trial include stationed gendarmeries, air defense systems, snipers, bomb squads, armored vehicles and drones.

A total of 249 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured in the July 15 failed coup which was perpetrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), led by ringleader Fetullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.

Gülen pursued a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

Of the 486 suspects, 461 of them currently in prison, 18 released under judicial supervision, and seven are fugitives.

Among the defendants on trial are two fugitives: Fetullah Gülen and Adil Oksuz, another alleged major coup perpetrator.