25.03.2026 00:08
The Rector of the National Defense University, Erhan Afyoncu, denied allegations that he instructed the recording of moments when lieutenants expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces brandished swords and shouted the slogan "We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal," and then presented the footage to President Erdoğan. Afyoncu stated, "I have not made any actions or statements as alleged," and announced that he would file a criminal complaint.
The Rector of the National Defense University (MSU), Erhan Afyoncu, stated, "The treacherous members of FETÖ continue their lies, slanders, smear campaigns, and black propaganda, and some individuals and circles pretending to be Atatürkists and claiming to fight against FETÖ are also being used as tools for these lies."
AFYONCU RESPONDS TO THE CLAIM OF THE DISMISSED LIEUTENANT'S LAWYER
The Rector of the National Defense University (MSU), Erhan Afyoncu, made a statement on social media regarding the claims of journalist Müyesser Yıldız.
"I HAVE NOT MADE ANY MOVEMENT OR STATEMENT"
Afyoncu stated that all the claims made by Yıldız based on Namık Öztürk, one of the lawyers of Ebru Eroğlu, who was dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces, are false, and he noted: "I have not made any movement or statement as alleged. Aside from the fact that there is no such statement by lawyer Namık Öztürk in the documents related to the case and in the court minutes, the fact that Müyesser Yıldız, who conveyed these false claims, wrote that Namık Öztürk used words like 'true, false' while making baseless accusations against me in court, clearly indicates that there is an expression of indecision stemming from a lack of knowledge about the claims, which proves that Öztürk's statements are lies and slanders."
"I WILL FILE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT"
Therefore, Müyesser Yıldız has also participated in this lie and smear activity. I will file a criminal complaint against the owners of the statements that constitute a crime and those who publicly disseminate false information and will resort to legal means to protect my rights."
Afyoncu, who reported that the military training institutions affected by FETÖ were revived after the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, and that the National Defense University established after the coup attempt has trained 62,000 officers, non-commissioned officers, and staff officers for the Turkish Armed Forces to date, stated, "The treacherous members of FETÖ, who cannot digest these developments, continue their lies, slanders, smear campaigns, and black propaganda, and some individuals and circles pretending to be Atatürkists and claiming to fight against FETÖ are also being used as tools for these lies. The slanders thrown at me will not turn me away from the path of serving the Turkish nation and state. The National Defense University will continue to train qualified officers and non-commissioned officers solely and exclusively loyal to the Turkish state, under the command of democracy and the will of the elected nation, as it has until now."