Six Turkish commanders of Gediz Frigate under arrest

BÜLENT SARIOĞLU ISTANBUL / Hürriyet

DHA Photo

Six commanders from the Turkish Navy’s Gediz Frigate are under arrest, meaning only one commander from the boat remains free.

The Gediz had only seven commanders since it joined the fleet of the Turkish Navy. However, six of the commanders are under arrest.

Members of the prisons investigation commission from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Veli Ağbaba, Özgür Özel, Nurettin Demir and Muharrem Işık, visited with soldiers at the Hadımköy and Hasdal Military Prisons last week. They talked to the soldiers under arrest and listened to their complaints. The marines said that a total of 134 Turkish marines are under arrest and that their convictions were approved by the High Court of Appeals.

A large number of soldiers and marines are under arrest from several cases, including the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup plot cases.

On Oct. 9, 2013, the Supreme Court of Appeals ordered the retrial of 88 convicted suspects, while approving the convictions of 237 suspects in the case.