The General and the Major's case: Who are the 'Zagor and Chico' in the TSK?

On March 14, while 5 lieutenants who crossed swords after the Military Academy graduation ceremony and said, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal”, along with three commanders who were accused of “indiscipline” for not stopping them, were dismissed from the TSK, we wrote about a “mobbing” case involving a famous general and a first lieutenant, and asked, “Let’s see what the attitude of the Ministry of National Defense (MSB), which dismissed the lieutenants in one fell swoop, will be in the face of these accusations regarding the general?”

For the sake of follow-up, let us first report the development in this case. To the application made by the first lieutenant's lawyer, İbrahim Yılmaz, to the Ministry of National Defense for “the investigation of General D.A.’s unlawful and arbitrary actions containing ill-treatment towards First Lieutenant M.E. and other personnel if any, the conduct of a disciplinary investigation against him, and the initiation of a judicial investigation for the crime of misconduct in office,” the response was: “In the examination conducted within the scope of the relevant legislation, it has been determined that there is no action or transaction contrary to the legislation.”

Incredible Accusations

Now, completely different allegations regarding the same General are on the agenda. This time, Major E.Ş. is on the other side of the incident.

According to the allegations reflected in the criminal complaints and testimonies of Major E.Ş., who worked with this General between 2018 and 2024; when the General first started his duty, he said to Major E.Ş., “Isn’t your wife veiled? She was a theology graduate, I think.”

When Major E.Ş. replied, “Yes,” the General continued, “Who is there to trust, who prays?” Meanwhile, he said he would attack certain commanders by accusing them of being “leftists.”

In the following process, they became even closer. The General’s affection and trust in Major E.Ş. increased. Mostly, he met only with E.Ş. and Lieutenant Colonel S.T., both during and outside of working hours. He shared his feelings and thoughts with them.

Again, according to Major E.Ş.’s allegations; for example, he used incredible expressions about some commanders in Ankara, as well as Erdoğan and his family... He recounted that he sent a message to Erdoğan’s Chief of Staff saying, “If troops are to be sent to Gaza, I want to go even as a private,” and that he received a reply with a prayer emoji... He said about a former official of the MSB, “Is it clear what Zagor is?”, and about a current executive, “No good will come from Chico.”... He said that if he were retired, he would hold a press conference and tell the public about all the dirty laundry of the ruling party... He used the term “idiot” for a staff member, and regarding the clothing of a colonel’s wife, he said, “Did you see the outfit the man’s wife is wearing? Even a prostitute wouldn’t wear it.”

Furthermore, when he fell while paragliding in 2023 and suffered fractures in his body, he ordered that this situation not be reported to the superior commanders. Upon this, no accident report was sent to Ankara, and his office was turned into a maintenance room, and his treatment continued there. When it was stated that he could not recover this way and it was suggested that he be hospitalized, he replied, “They are already looking for an opportunity to retire me. It must not be heard,” while pointing to the commanders’ plaque in his office, he said, “I won’t give these p...... a chance. If they found an opportunity, they would drown me in a spoonful of water, but they are terrified of me like dogs. I called the Külliye because they sent the troops late during the earthquake, I told them, I was the one who had Y.T. retired.”

Shocked by these attitudes and words, E.Ş. and S.T. began to avoid going to the General unless they had to.

Their relationship deteriorated further after Major E.Ş., while serving as the duty officer, filed two reports against a non-commissioned officer for indiscipline during his inspections.

Specifically; although the General said, “You did well. He is a FETÖ member anyway. I will initiate proceedings within the scope of the Military Penal Code and the TSK Disciplinary Law,” he did not take any action.

Let us continue by stating that in the following process, the non-commissioned officer also filed a criminal complaint against Major E.Ş., an investigation was opened against E.Ş., and the General made that non-commissioned officer’s wife his lawyer.

In April 2024, the General fell ill and was hospitalized. He got angry at Major E.Ş. for not visiting him. When E.Ş. visited, he did not accept him. Meanwhile, he learned from his fellow soldiers that the General was also calling him a “Menzil member, cultist.”

After these developments, Major E.Ş. made some posts on the Chat-In application without naming names, regarding the expressions the General used about some personnel. Upon this, the General called E.Ş. and asked, “Are you threatening me?” Major E.Ş. replied, “Why would I threaten you? If you didn’t say such a thing, take action against those who put this forward.”

The General asked them to come to the hospital. When they went, he got angry and asked, “What are you trying to do?” Major E.Ş. asked if he had made accusations about him being a “Menzil member, cultist.” The General’s answer was, “What kind of idiot majors you are. Don’t bother me with these small matters, I have big issues. Some generals in Ankara have written some things on WhatsApp to get rid of me. If I go, Islam will be left leaderless in this army. I had surgery to remind them of myself.”

Major E.Ş. insisted, “Commander, we don’t know about those matters. Why did you say such a thing about us? What does not coming to the hospital have to do with the service record?” This time, the General said the following:

“You are bird-brained. Is being a member of a community bad? The President also has a community. Delete those messages you wrote. But how will you delete them; you are not the group administrator, you cannot delete them. I will delete them.”

Immediately afterwards, Major E.Ş. copied those correspondences in case they were deleted.

General Obtained a Restraining Order

E.Ş., whose appointment to another province came out during the normal assignment period, followed whether action was taken against the non-commissioned officer. When he learned months later that no action had been taken and that only a written warning had been given with the assessment of “impoliteness to a superior,” he sent a complaint petition to the command he was affiliated with in Ankara regarding the General. But no answer was given. Upon this, he made some posts on Instagram again without naming names.

The General evaluated these posts as being directed at him and reported them to the superior command in Ankara, requesting that an investigation committee be assigned for Major E.Ş. This request was immediately fulfilled, and E.Ş. was given a warning penalty. In addition, a criminal investigation was initiated against him on charges of “threatening and insulting a superior.”

His lawyer, İbrahim Yılmaz, objected to this investigation permit. However, before the objection application was concluded, an indictment was prepared against Major E.Ş. Interestingly, the indictment says for E.Ş., “Let disciplinary action be taken,” and a second disciplinary investigation is initiated on the same subject.

There is more.

Meanwhile, some people intervened. The General stated that he did not want the matter to be heard and that he expected an apology from E.Ş. When intermediaries conveyed this, E.Ş. went to the General’s office last January 24. The General said right in front of the door that he accepted his apology. However, before E.Ş. left that province, he learned that the General had informed the command in Ankara and had initiated an investigation against him on the same day and had taken the personnel’s statement.

One week after this meeting, on January 20, the General did one more thing; he obtained a 2-month restraining order against Major E.Ş. from the Family Court.

The reason for the investigation initiated by the General is “unannounced visit.” Major E.Ş., whose statement was taken by the investigation committee, was also given a disciplinary penalty for this.

Ultimately, the file was sent to the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board (YDK) with the request for E.Ş.’s dismissal from the TSK.

Major’s Dismissal from TSK Requested

This dismissal request was discussed at the YDK yesterday. While Major E.Ş. was explaining the events he witnessed and experienced, which we summarized above, one by one, giving the names of his witnesses, his lawyer İbrahim Yılmaz emphasized that the dismissal file was prepared entirely through the indictment, but that this indictment, prepared before the objection they made to the investigation permit was concluded, was irregular, that action could not be taken with these unfinalized allegations, and that a post shown as the basis for all accusations, despite being dated June 16-17, was shown as if it were made in December 2024 to avoid the statute of limitations.

Let us state that the YDK decision will be clear within 15-20 days and come to the criminal case opened against E.Ş. on charges of “threatening and insulting a superior,” which will begin to be heard next month.

In the statement he gave to the Prosecutor’s Office on January 30 in his capacity as a complainant, the General requested that a “restraining measure” be applied against Major E.Ş. due to his “strong feeling that he could cause physical harm to his wife, children, and himself,” and also said, “As I am a general, I also request a publication/press ban and a confidentiality order due to the negative effects that such a case would create in society.”

There is no need for many words; let us suffice by saying, “What a tragic picture for the TSK!”..

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 16, 2025