Addressing Parliament during a special session to commemorate the first anniversary of a botched coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu questioned the failure of the army and intelligence heads to testify to the legislature’s Coup Investigation Commission.
Criticizing the written testimonies submitted by National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, the main opposition leader said it is not acceptable for them not to testify in person.
“On whose order were they prevented from testifying to the commission? On what grounds?” Kılıçdaroğlu asked during the session in which all party leaders addressed the General Assembly.
In addition, Kılıçdaroğlu claimed the information provided by MİT on the coup attempt has not been satisfactory. He asked why Adil Öksüz, a prime suspect of the coup with alleged ties to the Gülen movement, was not monitored by intelligence.
Kılıçdaroğlu urged for clarification of the political leg of the junta as he claimed it has deliberately been left in the dark.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has held the Gülen movement responsible for the coup since the first hours of the attempt, although Fethullah Gülen denies any involvement.