18.08.2026 01:40
Retired Admiral Türker Ertürk, against whom an investigation was launched by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to statements in his social media posts, was arrested by the court he was brought before. It was learned that in his statement to the prosecutor's office, Ertürk admitted that the controversial words belonged to him, but argued that his statements were of a political assessment nature and did not contain any criminal elements.
The statement given by retired Admiral Türker Ertürk to the prosecutor's office, who was detained and subsequently arrested due to his statements on social media posts, has been obtained. Ertürk defended that his words fell within the scope of political assessment and did not accept the accusations.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED DUE TO SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation against retired Admiral Türker Ertürk due to his statements in video content shared from his social media account.
Ertürk was taken into custody on charges of "threatening to create fear and panic among the public" and "inciting crime" within the scope of the investigation. After the prosecutor's office procedures, Ertürk was referred to the court and a decision was made for his arrest.
It was learned that in his statement to the prosecutor's office, Ertürk admitted that the speeches in the videos in question belonged to him, but argued that his statements did not contain elements of a crime.
"THE WORDS BELONG TO ME"
Ertürk, who gave a statement before the prosecutor in the presence of his lawyer, stated that the person in the video recordings subject to the investigation file was himself.
Ertürk stated that in one of the videos, he used the words "the government will change, whether with pain or without pain, the government will change," and in another part, he made assessments that if the government did not change through democratic means, the Turkish people could also face various consequences.
Ertürk, who also admitted that he reacted by approving a question directed to him by the host, said that the speeches in the videos belonged to him.
"STATEMENTS WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT"
Stating that the videos in question were taken from broadcasts made on different dates, Ertürk claimed that one of the recordings was from a program approximately 3.5 years ago and the other from approximately 11 years ago.
Claiming that the posts were taken out of context and brought back to the agenda, Ertürk alleged that the person who shared the videos on his social media account produced manipulative content.
Ertürk, saying, "I do not think these sentences contain a crime," did not accept the accusations against him.
"MY AIM IS FOR THE COUNTRY NOT TO SUFFER"
In his statement, Ertürk also explained the reason for his words, saying he made these assessments because he thought the country would suffer less damage if the government changed.
In his defense, Ertürk summarized that he believed the continuation of the government would cause the country to suffer more, and that the expressions he used were of a political assessment nature.
Additionally, Ertürk, who made assessments regarding current political developments, claimed that the authorized state authorities were meeting with PKK and terrorist organization members, arguing that this justified his previous assessments.
"I DO NOT THINK IT CONSTITUTES AN ELEMENT OF A CRIME"
At the end of his statement to the prosecutor's office, Ertürk stated that his words should be evaluated within the scope of political criticism, and argued that his statements were not in the nature of threats or incitement to commit a crime.
The retired Admiral completed his defense by saying, "As I stated, I do not think these discourses constitute an element of a crime."