According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, the suspects, who were detained in Kosovo in a joint operation with Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) and Kosovo’s intelligence services, were brought back to Turkey on a private plane on Thursday.
In mid-July 2016, a faction of the Turkish military declared that it had seized control of the country and the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was no more in charge. The attempt was, however, suppressed a few hours later.
Ankara has accused Gulen, 76, of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in July 2016. Fethullah Gulen is also accused of being behind a long-running campaign to topple the government via infiltrating the country’s institutions, particularly the army, police and the judiciary.
The US-based cleric has since strongly rejected any involvement in the coup attempt against Erdogan. However, Ankara labeled his transnational religious and social movement as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
