Gülen movement

Turkish gendarmerie on Jan. 30 arrested a senior operative of FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, in the capital Ankara.

Identified by the initials A.Y., the former teacher was wanted with an arrest warrant for four years over "establishing and membership to an armed terrorist organization", according to statement by security forces.

Turkey will continue to decisively protect its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean and Cyprus, the country's National Security Council declared on Jan. 28. 

Underlining that these rights arise from international law, the council said in a statement that Turkey condemned rising terror attacks in Africa, including Somalia, as well as various other regions.

An Istanbul court on Jan. 22 overturned the acquittal of nine defendants, including businessman Osman Kavala, in a case regarding Gezi Park events of 2013 that led to nationwide protests.

The 3rd Criminal Chamber of Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals made its decision on appeals against the acquittal ruling by the 30th Heavy Penal Court in Istanbul.

Greeks and Turks ought to double their efforts to build friendship bridges, despite the policy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who feeds on conflict, top Turkish basketball player and NBA star Enes Kanter tells Kathimerini English Edition.

A Turkish flag in the city of Istanbul, May 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

The arrests came after prosecutors in the city of Izmir on Tuesday ordered the detention of 238 serving and former military officers including high-ranking soldiers.

A total of 218 of the suspects are still serving in various branches of the Turkish Armed Forces and Gendarmerie.

Hrant Dink, a prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist, was remembered on Jan. 19 14 years after he was assassinated. 

Born in Turkey's eastern Malatya province in 1954, in 1996 Dink established the Agos newspaper in Istanbul, a publication that since has been published in both Armenian and Turkish. He also acted as the paper's editor-in-chief.

Incoming Democratic President-elect Joe Biden wants to turn the page in Washington's relations with Ankara, Turkey's presidential spokesman has said according to reports.

Finding ways to resolve the differences between Turkey and the U.S. is an urgent necessity not only for bilateral relations, but also for transatlantic cooperation, Turkey's top diplomat said on Jan. 8. 

The Constitutional Court on Jan. 7 unanimously rejected U.S. citizen Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson's application over a "violation" of his rights.

The Constitutional Court concluded the application for Brunson, who was at the heart of a dispute between the U.S. and Turkey two years ago.

Turkey and Albania on Jan. 6 signed an agreement to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership level.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama following meetings in the capital Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the historic ties between the two countries.