Fethullah Gulen
The former assistant to the President of the United States Donald trump on national security Michael Flynn discussed with the Turkish authorities for the extradition of preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of attempting a coup d’etat in July 2016. On Friday, March 24, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing former CIA Director James Woolsey, who was present at the meeting.
Conversation, he said, took place on 19 September in new York. Flynn at that time could adviser to Donald trump in his campaign.
The discussion was attended by the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Woolsey said that the meeting discussed the idea of “in the dead of night to sweep this guy away” without a formal extradition process, reports TASS. While specific details of the plan were not invited.
The former head of the CIA added that he opposed such variant and reported the incident to the Vice-President of the USA Joe Biden.
Representative Flynn Price Floyd told the newspaper that the retired General “has never discussed the illegal operation, illegal issuance or other actions of a similar nature”, reports RIA Novosti.
Michael Flynn resigned from the post of adviser to the President on national security on February 13. In the letter of resignation stated that he gave the White house inaccurate information about contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington Sergei Kislyak. In his place was appointed General Herbert Raymond McMaster.
Turkish authorities believe the preacher Fethullah gülen living in the United States since 1999, the organizer of the coup attempt, which occurred July 15, 2016. Then the rebels took to the streets of Ankara and Istanbul military equipment and tried to take over key installations. However, the majority of the security forces remained loyal to the government, and the coup was suppressed.