Ertuğrul Özkök to Hürriyet: 'Did the mysterious man pay double to get the letter published?'
It has been stated that the full-page open letter addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, published in Hürriyet newspaper, contains veiled threats. The letter, penned by Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam, is being evaluated as an interesting diplomatic move in the context of Turkey and Ukraine-Russia relations.
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Journalist Ertuğrul Özkök wrote an article regarding a full-page advertisement published in Hürriyet newspaper the other day. The advertisement was presented as an open letter addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The phrase "This is an advertisement" appeared at the bottom of the letter.
DIPLOMATIC MOVE
The letter is dated August 12, 2024, and begins with the following sentence:
"His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, 342 20 Fener Haliç, Istanbul, Turkey."
This opening indicates that it was written to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The author, who had previously written two letters, stated that this letter was penned as an addition to a previous letter sent on August 8.
Ertuğrul Özkök said, 'What makes this situation interesting is that the author, having received no results from the two letters written, now wants to present these views to the attention of Ankara and the Turkish public. This gives the impression that it aims to exert stronger pressure.'
WHO IS ROBERT AMSTERDAM?
The author of the letter, Robert "Bob" Amsterdam, is a Canadian citizen born in 1956. Amsterdam, the founder and partner of the law firm "Amsterdam & Partners" with branches in Washington D.C. and London, has previously defended politicians who were victims of dictatorships in countries such as Venezuela, Nigeria, and Indonesia. However, he began to take an interest in Russia starting in 2003 and took on the defense of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former CEO of Russia's giant Yukos company.
After an incident one night when he was detained at the hotel where he was staying in Russia, his relationship with Russia took a different path, and today he is seen as a lobbyist for the Russian Church in the great war between the Kiev Church and the Moscow Church in Ukraine.
WHAT IS IN THE CONTENT OF THE LETTER?
Although the letter was written with a concern for diplomatic language, it gives an amateurish impression. Its poor translation into Turkish also makes the letter quite incomprehensible. In the letter, Özkök, who states that he has "deep relations" with President Erdoğan, claims that he is fighting against FETÖ and lobbying for Turkey on this issue.
Ertuğrul Özkök also asked Hürriyet, 'Did the mysterious man pay double to get the letter published?'
WHAT HAPPENED IN UKRAINE ON THE DAY HÜRRİYET PUBLISHED IT?
On the day the letter was published, August 20, 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament voted on a law banning the umbrella organization of pro-Russian churches. It is stated that this law will allow pro-Russian churches and clergy to be tried on charges of treason.