Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20
By Orkhan Guluzade – Trend:
Turkish police have detained 18 entrepreneurs, who are members of the country’s Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), during a special operation against the Fethullah Gulen movement, Hurriyet newspaper reported Aug. 20 citing sources at law enforcement agencies.
Gulen is accused of organizing the July 15 military coup attempt in the country.
The newspaper reported that there are the head of Taha Tekstil company Ismail Hakki Kisacik and Vice Chairman of Turkey’s Exporters’ Assembly Mustafa Cikrikcioglu among the detainees.
Earlier, 187 entrepreneurs were arrested at TUSKON and other institutions during a special operation and searches within the fight against the Gulen movement.
An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen.
On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.
However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.
Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.
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