TURKEY: UNEASINESS CONTINUES FOLLOWING DETENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000300 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: UNEASINESS CONTINUES FOLLOWING DETENTION OF MILITARY OFFICERS REF: ANKARA 294 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (SBU) Despite on-going press speculation into the reasons and motivations behind the detention of nearly 50 military officers on February 22 (reftel) -- including discussions of a possible coup by some news outlets -- the situation in Turkey remains calm. The Istanbul Public Prosecutor has formally arrested seven of those detained, including two active-duty Admirals (RADM Ramazan Cem Gundeniz and RADM Aziz Cakmak),three retired flag-level officers (Gen. Mehmet Kaya Varol, RADM Ali Deniz Kutluk, and RADM Ozer Karabulut),and two staff colonels. Six others have been released, although their status (freed pending trial or for a lack of incriminating evidence) remains uncertain. Others are still being questioned, and some press outlets note that additional individuals have been detained. PM Erdogan returned to Turkey around midnight on February 23, and was immediately briefed on the investigation by Deputy Prime Minister Cicek, Justice Minister Sadulah Ergin and Interior Minister Besir Atalay. He has not made any public statements about the situation since his return. TGS Issues Statement -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Following an emergency meeting called by Turkish General Staff CHOD General Ilker Basbug on the evening of February 23, the TGS released a short announcement: "A meeting was held at the Headquarters of the Office of the General Staff today, with the participation of all current four-star generals and admirals, in order to assess the serious situation that emerged within the framework of an investigation being conducted by the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul." Although the statement does not decry the detentions, it does outline for the public and government that senior TGS leadership is extremely concerned about the detentions and is discussing the situation internally. ¶3. (C) According to press reports (Note: Post has not been able to corroborate this information),in a meeting earlier in the day held TGS Headquarters with Acting PM Cemil Cicek, the military conveyed to Cicek that a) force commanders should not be detained, but invited to testify; b) if force commanders are prosecuted, then they should remain free during the trial as they are not a flight risk; and c) no action should be taken against General Saldiray Berk, Commander of the 3rd Army. Cicek denounced the media reports, stating that he had discussed a separate issue with TGS (the use of a password that is insulting to the PM). Opposition Sees AKP Role In Arrests -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Speaking in support of the military in Parliament on February 23, Republican People's Party (CHP) opposition leader Deniz Baykal criticized the detentions and likened them to the arrest of nearly 150 statesmen, soldier, and intellectuals who were arrested in 1919/1920 during the Turkish War of Independence and exiled to Malta. They were eventually acquitted. "Behind these incidents, there is politics. Political forces are exploiting the judiciary for their own purposes." Other opposition figures, including Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli, continue to describe the developments as a "state crisis." COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) As noted in reftel, the judiciary has four days to turn the detentions into formal arrests or to release the individuals. We expect that Former Air Force Commander Gen Ibrahim Firtina, who is being kept under detention at the Department of Organized crime, will be questioned today. Post does not/not expect large-scale demonstrations or other unrest related to these detentions this week. Jeffrey "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"