CHP's Yankı Bağcıoğlu explains: The truth behind the resignation of the Military Academy Company Commander revealed

The incident where young lieutenants shouted "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" during the sword-oath ceremony at the Military Academy graduation held on August 30 Victory Day continues to remain on the agenda.

While circles close to the government have implied that the young lieutenants are "coup plotters," AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also targeted the lieutenants.

CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY COMMANDER RESIGNED AFTER THE EVENT

Following Erdoğan's statements, the Ministry of National Defense launched an investigation into the matter, and it was alleged that Major M., the Military Academy Company Commander, had resigned from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) after the event.

However, it has emerged that Major M. had made the decision to resign before the ceremony, citing personal reasons.

Making a statement on the subject, CHP Deputy Chairman Responsible for the Ministry of National Defense, Retired Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu, addressed the Ministry of National Defense, asking: "Why is it being permitted to create a perception by linking the resignation to the graduation oath, despite it being known that our company commander, a major, had made this decision well in advance for personal reasons and had even said goodbye to the cadets a few days before the ceremony?"

Reminding that the lieutenants' oath text was included in the directive in 1999 but removed from the official program in 2023, Bağcıoğlu asked: "For what reasons was the Graduation Oath, which had been performed every year since 1994/1995, except for 2016 and 2017, removed from the OFFICIAL program in 2023?"

The full text of Bağcıoğlu's statement on the matter is as follows:

"Regarding the Graduation Oath taken at the Military Academy Graduation Ceremony, the Ministry of National Defense has stated:

“The oath in question was first added to the directive (MY 56-5 (B) Directive on Diploma and Flag Handover and New Academic Year Opening Ceremonies to be Held at All Levels Affiliated with the War Academies, Land, Naval, and Air Forces, and the Gendarmerie General Command) on January 29, 1999, and its implementation at graduation ceremonies began. With the amendment made to the directive (National Defense University Ceremony Directive) on March 29, 2023, the “Graduation Oath” to be taken at ceremonies took its current form.”

Although it was included in the Directive in 1999, it is known that the Graduation Oath practice has been carried out since 1994/1995.

With the amendment approved by the “National Defense University Rector” made to the National Defense University Ceremony Directive on March 29, 2023, the graduation oath to be taken at ceremonies was removed from the OFFICIAL program, but no statement indicating that it was banned or should not be recited has been identified in any directive.

In this context, the following questions need to be answered to inform the public:

1- For what reasons was the Graduation Oath, which had been performed every year since 1994/1995, except for 2016 and 2017, removed from the OFFICIAL program in 2023?

2- Is there a provision in the directives or individual orders stating that the Graduation Oath is banned? Has a directive been issued on this matter?

3- If there is no such written or verbal directive, why is the Graduation Oath, which was performed as an activity outside the ceremony following the completion of the official graduation ceremony and the departure of the President and state protocol from the ceremony area, and whose text was included in the Directive until 2023, being investigated as if it were a criminal act?

4- Why is it being permitted to create a perception by linking the resignation to the graduation oath, despite it being known that our company commander, a major, who was reported to have resigned after the ceremony, had made this decision well in advance for personal reasons and had even said goodbye to the cadets a few days before the ceremony?"