Crisis over the Military Academy oath ceremony: Lieutenants to present their defense

Lawyers for the lieutenants, who were referred to disciplinary action with a request for 'separation from the Turkish Armed Forces', have submitted legal opinions obtained from expert academics to the High Disciplinary Board. In one of the prepared legal opinions, the lawyers examined folders containing investigation reports, statements, information gathering, incident logs, and testimonies.

WHAT DOES THE EXPERT OPINION SAY?

According to information provided by 12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız, three professors from Başkent University Faculty of Law, who provided an expert opinion before the file of the lieutenants facing dismissal from the TSK was reviewed by the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board (YDK), stated: "None of the material or moral elements of the disciplinary offense attributed to Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu and her colleagues occurred in this concrete case." Regarding the Officer's Oath recited by the lieutenants, the professors commented, "Every Turkish child's hair would stand on end while reading this text."

The expert opinion, provided by three faculty members from the Department of Administrative Law at Başkent University Faculty of Law at the request of the lieutenants' lawyers, was prepared based on a copy of the investigation file in light of the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, the TSK Internal Service Law, the TSK Disciplinary Law, and other legislation.

In the expert opinion, the chronology of the "disputed event" was first summarized as follows:

"It is understood that the graduation ceremony on August 30 was conducted in the presence of state protocol in accordance with directives and orders; that after the graduation ceremony ended, the lieutenants were kept waiting behind screens outside the ceremony area; that after the announcer declared 'The ceremony has ended' and the protocol left the area, the lieutenants entered the field for the traditional sword-crossing ceremony and to take photos with their families; that during this time, the lieutenants began to gather on the field; that Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu took the microphone and made an announcement; that in the existing photos and footage in the examined files, it is seen that some officers were also present on the field during the event; and that after the event was reflected in the press and public, an administrative investigation and disciplinary inquiry were conducted, and the lieutenants were referred to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for separation from the TSK."

THEY WILL PRESENT THEIR DEFENSE

Following the investigation into the unofficial sword-oath ceremony at the Military Academy on August 30, the file concerning five lieutenants who acted in an organized manner and three personnel who had intent, fault, negligence, or responsibility will be discussed today at the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board (YDK). The lieutenants and other personnel referred to the YDK will also present their oral defenses to the board.