An expert report in the case of the assassination of former Grey Wolves leader Sinan Ateş concludes that all bullets that killed Ateş came from the gun of shooter Eray Özyağcı, contradicting the defense’s claims, the Birgün daily reported on Monday.
Defendants had argued that Ateş was shot by his own companions, but the report undermines this defense.
The report, which is part of the investigation into the December 30, 2022 killing of Ateş in Ankara, dismisses the claims made by Özyağcı and fellow defendant Doğukan Çep, who had suggested that another gunman was involved in the murder. The forensic analysis concluded that all bullets striking Ateş were fired by Özyağcı.
On the day of the attack, Özyağcı was reported to have waited 35 minutes near the scene before shooting Ateş as he walked down a street in Ankara. The gunman also fired at Ateş’s companions, wounding Selman Bozkurt. Another companion, Ahmet Keçik, attempted to return fire as Özyağcı fled the scene.
Ateş’s murder has sparked widespread controversy due to his role as the former head of the ultranationalist Grey Wolves, a paramilitary wing of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is allied with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The case has been marked by accusations of political interference by MHP figures who have been accused of orchestrating the murder.
The ongoing trial involves 22 defendants, including key suspects Özyağcı, Vedat Balkaya and Suat Kurt, who are charged with premeditated murder and face life sentences. Additional defendants, including former Grey Wolves officials, face charges ranging from incitement to murder to illegal possession of weapons.
The widow of the slain leader, Ayşe Ateş, has been a vocal critic of the investigation, accusing MHP leaders of obstructing justice. She has faced legal action, including a criminal complaint filed by MHP officials after she accused them of involvement in her husband’s assassination.
Lawyers for the Ateş family have also criticized the indictment for not addressing the alleged masterminds or the motive behind the assassination, focusing instead on those directly involved in the execution of the crime.
The lawyers’ criticism of the indictment highlights a broader accusation of government interference and a possible coverup, suggesting that the indictment was intentionally stripped of details to protect certain political figures.
The trial continues to unfold amid significant public and political interest, given the suspects’ affiliations and the historical importance of the Grey Wolves, the unofficial paramilitary wing of the MHP. Observers are closely watching for further revelations and the court’s handling of these explosive allegations.
The ideology of the Grey Wolves is mainly based on Turkish nationalism. Therefore, Kurds, Armenians and other minorities in Turkey have occasionally been their targets.
In 2020 France officially banned the Grey Wolves after a center dedicated to the memory of those who died in the mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti, including the name of the Grey Wolves.
Since then, the German government has faced an intensified public campaign in favor of banning the Turkish nationalist group.
In 2021 the European Parliament called on the European Union and its member states to examine the possibility of adding the Grey Wolves to the EU terrorist list.
In its 2019-2020 report prepared by Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, the EP voiced concerns about the group, saying it was expanding to worrying levels not only in Turkey but also in EU countries.