Military Personnel Entrapped with Martial Law Directive!

Brigadier General Özkan Aydoğdu, the Commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade stationed in Istanbul Maltepe, accused of planning and organizing the coup nationwide within the framework of the Peace at Home Council membership, made striking allegations about the events on July 15 in his defense at the Ankara 17th Heavy Penal Court. 

Aydoğdu, stating that daily intelligence messages about a potential terrorist attack were sent from the 3rd Corps Command to subordinate units, mentioned in his defense that on July 15, upon a call from the Deputy Commander of the Brigade between 21:00 and 21:30, he reached the Brigade, where he did not see any written orders initially. However, he communicated with the Corps Command Headquarters via a military encrypted phone. He received orders to deploy the units outside the barracks to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. 

Initially, the citizens applauded the troops, and the police helped the soldiers by clearing the way. However, according to Aydoğdu, suddenly, the applauding citizens and the police who opened the way began throwing stones at the military units. 

"At 22:25, when the Martial Law Directive was brought to me after 24:00, I understood the real situation. The units, deployed outside the barracks to reinforce security measures, ensure safety, and deter terrorists, were left exposed with an unlawful Martial Law directive, putting them in a position as if they were coup plotters. They first deploy them for security measures, saying a written order will come for this, but a Martial Law Directive arrives. I realized I was involved in the coup with receiving the order, but I did not obey it. I not only did not direct additional units but also tried to withdraw the units already outside the barracks," Aydoğdu explained. 

In his statement, Aydoğdu mentioned that he initially couldn't comprehend some personnel's peculiar behaviors before and during the events. He pointed out the Logistics Support Commander Lieutenant Colonel Refai Eciroğulları repeatedly called the Brigade Operations Center before any unit went outside the barracks on July 15 to inquire about any negative developments, Colonel Hançeri Sayat, whose relationship with his unit had been severed due to continuous foreign assignments, stating he would visit his parents in Adana and Izmir over the weekend before leaving Turkey, being in Istanbul; Lieutenant Colonel Refai Eciroğulları constantly talking to Colonel Hançeri SAYAT on the phone; Colonel Erkan Olgan bringing his MP5 submachine gun from his residence to the barracks on July 15. Aydoğdu emphasized that these actions were evidence that these individuals had prior knowledge of and were preparing for the events on July 15.