A power struggle in the Gendarmerie?

The country's agenda is moving so intensely and rapidly that the promotions, reassignments, and retirements within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Gendarmerie are not attracting anyone's attention. Of course, this is also influenced by the fact that the perception that politics, rather than merit, reigns supreme even in those institutions has become deeply entrenched.

Nevertheless, let us first look at some of the promotions and reassignments made this year in the Gendarmerie General Command, which was completely attached to the Ministry of Interior after being severed from the TSK following the July 15 coup attempt.

In the decree published in the Official Gazette on July 31, the most notable event—at least in media outlets that are not supporters of the AKP—was the retirement of Major General Nurettin Alkan, who is both a veteran of the fight against terrorism and the July 15 coup attempt, and a recipient of the "State Medal of Honor."

Yet, when Nurettin Alkan was appointed as the Tunceli Gendarmerie Regional Commander in 2021, the pro-government newspaper Sabah reported: "Brigadier General Nurettin Alkan, who fought until morning at the headquarters building in Ankara during the coup attempt initiated by FETÖ on the night of July 15 and was wounded in the shoulder and became a veteran, has been appointed as the Tunceli Gendarmerie Regional Commander by presidential decree. Alkan had been serving as the Military Advisor to the Ministry of Interior at the Turkish Embassy in Moscow for the last three years."

In fact, it was clear from last year that Nurettin Alkan would be purged. While he was expected to come to the headquarters in Ankara, he was left at the Balıkesir Provincial Gendarmerie Command, effectively forced into retirement.

Nurettin Alkan was also the last link in the chain of five staff colonels who engaged in combat during the July 15 coup attempt but were purged over time. Someone seemed to have sworn an oath to keep them out of the headquarters. And so, with this year's decree, Alkan was only able to return to headquarters under the designation "at the disposal of the Gendarmerie General Command," only to be retired!

It is widely discussed that the Menzil sect is very influential in the Gendarmerie; naturally, comments such as "The Menzil sect wanted it, so the veteran general was retired" and "The shadow of Menzil in Gendarmerie reassignments" were made regarding Nurettin Alkan's purge.

THE VETERAN IS GONE, THE SUSPECTS REMAIN

Before the Gendarmerie decree, I was following an ongoing investigation file in one of our major provinces in the East.

It is a file full of allegations that one could say "has everything in it," extending from a commander who has been serving in one of the important districts of this province since 2021—and who was promoted to lieutenant colonel and continued his duty there—to the provincial gendarmerie commander, from the governor to the courthouse, and from certain members of the press to politicians and dark forces.

Blackmailing some officials with certain footage, slandering those who tried to stop him, 300 million liras in illicit gains detected so far by handling the dark business of others, seizing some businesses in the district, extortion under the guise of traffic control; in short, whatever you look for, it is there.

But whether through blackmail tapes or the support of politicians from the ruling party, the complaints against him are always dismissed, and he continues to remain in office.

That is, until those allegations were written to CİMER (Presidential Communication Center). Only then did the Gendarmerie General Command take the matter seriously, sending inspectors to conduct an investigation. First of all, the Provincial Gendarmerie Commander was asked, "Didn't you know about this?" and he answered, "I did not!"

As a result of the investigation, it was proposed that this lieutenant colonel be suspended, but again, some hands intervened, and somehow his reassignment to one of our western districts was secured in June.

Before leaving his post in this district, he made very comfortable farewell visits, saying, "I have made very beautiful friendships during my 4-year tenure. We tried to do our best for the security and peace of the district... I will continue to work with the same determination in my new place of duty."

I looked at the situation of the general, the provincial gendarmerie commander, who stated that he was unaware of those allegations that the entire district, and even the province, was talking about after the decree; I saw that it was decided he would continue his duty in the same province.

SIGNS OF CIVIL WAR

It was claimed that officials in the Gendarmerie said, "There will be no Kemalist, Republican officers left at the headquarters." This goal must have been reached, as it is now said that competition has begun among themselves.

Specifically; Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Murat Bulut, who participated in the election campaign of the AKP's İdil mayoral candidate along with the Governor and Police Chief of Şırnak during the 2024 municipal elections, was appointed to the Gendarmerie General Command Inspection and Evaluation Presidency with that year's decree. It is stated that he was planned to be made Head of Personnel with this year's decree, but was appointed to another position at the last minute due to a "trust" issue.

An important general, who was alleged to have attended the funeral of the Menzil sect leader, was surprisingly retired. This development is interpreted as, "Those who speak out within their own ranks and do not comply with the hierarchy are also being purged."

And this is the breaking news; it is reported that Major General Ali Doğan, who was appointed President of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy while serving as Gendarmerie Aviation Commander and is alleged to be close to the Menzil sect, submitted his retirement petition a few days ago after not being promoted to lieutenant general.

THE RESULT OF THE COMMANDER'S CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

There may be those who remember; last year, after the Gendarmerie decree, I made some assessments and brought up the influence of the Menzil sect and some allegations regarding the new Gendarmerie General Commander, General Ali Çardakçı.

After this article, General Çardakçı filed a criminal complaint against me on charges of "publicly insulting a public official due to their duty, publicly spreading misleading information to the public, slander, degrading the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, and the institutions and organs of the State," as well as "obtaining a uniformed photograph of him."

Regarding this criminal complaint, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a "no grounds for prosecution" decision 9 months later. In the prosecutor's decision, it was stated, "It is understood that there is no sufficient evidence or indication to file a lawsuit showing that the suspect committed the charged crimes, other than abstract allegations."

I wonder if someone will file a criminal complaint about this article of ours as well?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

August 11, 2025