Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 6/Trend A.Tagiyeva /
The sentences read out to the accused within the framework of a military coup which involved the Ergenekon organisation, show the development of democracy in Turkey, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said, Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday.
"The court's decisions in the Ergenekon case also contribute to the progress in negotiations between Turkey and the EU in the issue of full membership," Bagis said.
The minister said the Turkish court decided that Ergenekon is a terrorist organisation and no one in Turkey nor abroad has the right to speak out against this decision.
On August 5 the Turkish court sentenced 70-year old ex-Chief of General Staff of Turkey Ilker Basbug to life imprisonment in the case of Ergenekon's military coup attempt.
A number of high-ranking Turkish servicemen were also sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Basbug.
Nearly 150 servicemen, journalists, writers and lawyers were also sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
The court also recognised the Ergenekon organisation which was involved in a military coup attempt in Turkey in 2003, as being a terrorist organisation.
It was reported that 21 people were acquitted in the case.
The case on a campaign to discredit the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey has been under examination for several years. General Basbug resigned in 2010.