Notification served to 3 lieutenants: It is confirmed that the dismissal decision was taken by a 5-to-4 vote... Those who opposed the dismissal of the lieutenants from the TSK drew attention

Following the graduation ceremony of the National Defense University Land Forces Academy on August 30, 2024, the lieutenants crossed their swords, recited the officer's oath, and subsequently shouted, "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal."

After the pro-government media targeted the lieutenants, AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, "Who are you drawing these swords at? All necessary investigations regarding these individuals are being conducted, and those few who do not know their place will be purged."

Following this statement by Erdoğan, Ebru Eroğlu, Batuhan Gazi Kılıç, Deniz Demirtaş, Talip İzzet Akarsu, Serhat Gündar, who were referred to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for dismissal, as well as 3 disciplinary supervisors, Colonel Alper Topsakal, Lieutenant Colonel Halit Türkoğlu, and Major Murat Öztürk, were dismissed from the TSK by majority vote.

5 MEMBERS VOTED FOR DISMISSAL, 4 MEMBERS OPPOSED

While 5 members of the Land Forces High Disciplinary Board voted in favor of "dismissal," 4 members opposed the decision. The fact that 4 members dissented from the decision is expected to contribute positively to the lieutenants' pursuit of justice. The lieutenants have the right to file a lawsuit in the Administrative Court within 60 days.

Verbal notification was served to the 3 lieutenants whose dismissal from the TSK was decided. With this notification, it was confirmed that the decision was taken by a 5-4 vote. It drew attention that those who opposed the dismissal of the lieutenants from the TSK included the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Command, who is the President of the High Disciplinary Board, and the Head of Legal Affairs.

ALL EYES ON THE COURT OF CASSATION

Namık Öztürk, one of the lieutenants' lawyers, had filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, alleging that some commanders pressured others to change their opinions during the investigation process.

In the criminal complaint, it was alleged that documents were removed from the file, that when the file came to the Land Forces EDOK Command for the second time, the initial opinions and proposals of certain supervisors were not present in the file, and that the file contained opinions and proposals re-edited by these supervisors, thereby altering the content of the file.

Stating that there were also personnel with the rank of general among those complained about, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office noted that for this reason, the authority to grant permission for an investigation lies with the Minister of National Defense. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a "lack of jurisdiction" decision and sent the investigation file to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation.

VERBAL NOTIFICATION SERVED TO 3 LIEUTENANTS

According to the report by 12punto columnist and journalist Müyesser Yıldız, verbal notification was served to the 3 lieutenants whose dismissal from the TSK was decided. With this notification, it was confirmed that the decision was taken by a 5-4 vote.

According to Yıldız's report, those who opposed the dismissal of the lieutenants from the TSK included the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Command, who is the President of the High Disciplinary Board, and the Head of Legal Affairs.