Statement from the lawyers of the lieutenants whose discharge from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is requested: The ceremony was conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations.

```html

Sources from the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) made a statement regarding the referral of lieutenants who swore with swords saying "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" to the High Disciplinary Board (YDK) after the graduation ceremony at the Army War College.

In the statement, it was expressed that "The alleged crime is not drawing swords or saying 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal', but rather engaging in intentional and organized indiscipline despite the warnings of superiors. As Atatürk said, 'Without discipline, armies cannot be commanded.' Attitudes and behaviors that will create a perception of division over our common value, Atatürk, are unacceptable."

Following the statements from the MSB, the lawyers of the lieutenants also published a joint statement.

"UNACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF METHOD AND TIMING"

The statement included the following expressions: "On 21.11.2024, news attributing to sources from the Ministry of National Defense that accused our clients of indiscipline was seen on some media channels, and it has become necessary to respond to these based on the source of the statements.

The Ministry of National Defense's public disclosure of its views in a covert manner before the meeting of the High Disciplinary Board raises doubts about the decisions that the members of the High Disciplinary Board will later make, considering the military hierarchy. Therefore, the aforementioned statements are unacceptable in terms of method and timing. Moreover, the issues mentioned in the statements are misleading in terms of their content. Specifically;

"THE CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT DIRECTIVE"

First of all, our clients' proposals to read the officer's oath at the official ceremony were presented to the command hierarchy, and after they were not accepted, the military oath stipulated in the legislation was taken at the official ceremony. The order given to our clients was related to the oath to be taken at the official ceremony, and naturally, the order was fulfilled, and the ceremony was conducted in accordance with the relevant directive. The relevant directive does not contain any regulation regarding how the officers graduating after the official ceremony will express their sword-drawing traditions and joys. No additional order was given to our clients regarding what they would do after the ceremony.

"LIEUTENANTS WERE GIVEN PERMISSION TO GATHER IN THE AREA"

With the announcement of the ceremony officer stating "the ceremony has ended," after the official ceremony ended and the protocol left the ceremony area, the ceremony commander allowed the graduating lieutenants to "enter the area," just as in previous years. Thus, the lieutenants traditionally gathered in the middle of the area where the ceremony was held, drew swords, and recited the officer's oath. In fact, the officer's oath recited is the same text that was read in front of the battalion's officers and commanders during the celebration held among the students the night before. Therefore, there is no question of our clients not complying with any order. Moreover, the officer's oath in question, which is the subject of the discussions, is a text that was read at official ceremonies until 2022, and even on August 16, 2024, it was read in front of the Minister of National Defense at an official ceremony held at the Special Forces Command.

"A TRADITION THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUING FOR YEARS"

Secondly, it is claimed that the press members were invited to the ceremony area by the lieutenants. It is absolutely out of the question for our clients to invite press members. On the contrary, our clients made the necessary effort to ensure that no one other than the officers graduating in the area was present. The announcement made by the top officer after the official ceremony to clear the area is clear evidence of this. Indeed, in the order requesting our clients' defense within the scope of the administrative investigation, there is no accusation of "inviting the press," and the MSB's covert statement is also inconsistent with the scope of the official investigation. In fact, there is no doubt that those who sent the press to where our clients were are malicious individuals trying to open a discussion by presenting a long-standing tradition as if it were being done for the first time.

Our greatest wish is that the lieutenants, who are the apple of our nation's eye, are not subjected to political discussions due to the continuation of a tradition that has lasted for decades, and that their professional futures are not darkened."