Nine colonels of the Turkish forces in the occupied areas of Cyprus were arrested on Sunday and are being sent to Ankara for suspected involvement with the so called FETO organisation.
According to Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris Postasi, the arrests were made in raids conducted against cleric Fetullah Gulen’s organisation.
Investigations were also conducted on the homes of the individuals.
Fetullah Gulen is the suspected plotter of a failed military coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
Since the coup, journalists, military officials, and politicians in Turkey have been detained under suspicions of involvement with Gulen’s FETO group.
The Republic of Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the information to SigmaLive.
SigmaLive has also learnt from Defence Ministry sources that other similar arrests were conducted in the occupied areas, some of which were made public and other that were kept under wraps.
The same sources from the Ministry said that the timing is important for the ongoing negotiations on the Cyprus problem, as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has surprised Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci with the raids on Turkish forces in the occupied areas.
Erdogan is attempting to monitor the Turkish army inside and outside of Turkey, SigmaLive has learnt.
Bruxelles2 learnt on Sunday that a purge is being conducted against Turkish officers serving abroad in NATO missions.
Citing a number of soldiers, who remained anonymous, Bruxelles2 learnt that approximately 232 of 400 soldiers serving abroad are being cleared out.
Bruxelles2 has also learnt that approximately 165 soldiers serving in diplomatic missions abroad have also charged with treason and terrorism, and were asked to return to Turkey.
The result of these actions by the Turkish government has led many of the soldiers to request asylum in the countries where they are stationed.
Bruxelles2 learnt that one of the main reasons the officials are seeking asylum is due to the fact that many of the soldiers that returned on Ankara’s requests, were jailed, questioned, and in some cases subjected to torture.
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