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Three new Erdogan’s bodyguards charged in the United States

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The US authorities announced on Tuesday (August 29th) that three new security agents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been accused of violence in Washington on the sidelines of a recent visit by the latter to the United States.

Nineteen suspects, including 15 Turkish security guards and bodyguards, are believed to have assaulted peaceful Kurdish demonstrators in the federal capital on 16 May. The violence took place in front of the residence of the Turkish ambassador, where the strong man of Ankara went after his meeting at the White House with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. The fight resulted in a report of 12 wounded, including a policeman.

Of the 19 accused, only two were arrested: Sinan Narin, a resident of Virginia, and Eyup Yildirim, residing in the state of New Jersey, are being prosecuted for assault and will be appearing in September. The other suspects are wanted.

Washington Police Release Video Of 8 More Erdoğan Bodyguards Wanted For Attack

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Washington Police Release Video Of 8 More Erdoğan Bodyguards Wanted For AttackThe Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department released a video on Saturday of eight more “persons of interest” believed to be in Turkey’s autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s security detail who were involved in an attack on protesters in front of the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington last month.

According to the video, eight individuals dressed mainly in the suits and uniforms that were worn by Erdoğan’s security detail during his visit to the US on May 16 are being sought by the police.

Urging the public to inform them of the suspects’ whereabouts, the DC Police Department said information provided could be eligible for a reward.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that a dozen security guards for Erdoğan are now wanted by D.C. police, who on Thursday declared them criminal suspects and accused them of attacking peaceful protesters during a visit to Washington in May.

According to the report, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said during a press conference on Thursday “rarely have I seen in 28 years of policing the type of thing I saw in Sheridan Circle [in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence]. … We all saw the violence that was perpetrated against peaceful protesters, and it’s not something that we’re going to tolerate.”

At a press conference on Thursday the police read out the names of the suspects, who were identified, with the help of the State Department, by matching surveillance video from the altercation to entry visas and passports. All are charged with various degrees of assault.

Following are the 12 people wanted by the DC Metropolitan Police Department in relation to the attack on protesters in May:

  • Turgut Akar, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in amenacing manner
  • İsmail Dalkıran, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in amenacing manner
  • Servet Erkan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Tugay Erkan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Ahmet Karabay, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in amenacing manner
  • Feride Kayasan, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in amenacing manner
  • Lütfü Kutluca, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in amenacing manner
  • Mustafa Murat Sümercan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony assault with significant bodilyinjury and misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Gökhan Yıldırım, a Turkish security official, charged with felony assault with significant bodily injury
  • İsmail Ergündüz, a Turkish security official, charged with felony assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanor assault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Mehmet Sarman, a Turkish security official, charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanorassault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Hamza Yurteri, a Turkish security official, charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanorassault or threatened assault in a menacing manner
  • Mahmut Sami Ellialti, charged with felony aggravated assault and felony assault with significant bodilyinjury
  • Ahmet Cengizham Dereci, charged with felony assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanorassault or threatened assault in a menacing manner

In related news on Wednesday, two Turkish men resident in the United States were arrested by US Marshals for their role in the beating of protesters, according to a report by The Daily Caller.

Speaking during an iftar dinner on Thursday night at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Erdoğan slammed the US decision to issue arrest warrants for his bodyguards and said he would initiate a political and legal battle against the arrest warrants for his security personnel.

“They have issued arrest warrants for my security detail. What kind of a law is this, what kind of a judiciary is this? We will have political and legal struggle [against the decision],” he said.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said there will be no tolerance for those using intimidation and violence to suppress freedom of expression over an arrest decision issued for the bodyguards of Erdoğan.

The demonstrators had gathered to protest the policies of Erdoğan, who was in the capital for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. When Erdoğan later arrived at the ambassadorial residence, his security detail, along with supporters of the Turkish president, was captured in video footage brutally attacking the group of demonstrators. Nine people were injured in the melee.

Erdoğan was also seen in the footage watching his bodyguards assault the protesters.

The Turkish Embassy at the time claimed that Erdoğan’s bodyguards were acting in self-defense and that the protesters were affiliated with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, allegations denied by the demonstrators. (turkishminute.com) June 18, 2017

Erdoğan’s guards, NY police scuffle during anti-Erdoğan protest

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A group of Turkish citizens staged a protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York where he came to attend the United Nations General 193251_newsdetailAssembly, leading to a confrontation between Erdoğan’s guards and New York City police.

According to the private Cihan news agency, Erdoğan was met by protests in front of the hotel where he went to attend a dinner. Protesters chanted slogans saying “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a thief,” “You exploit religion, make big haul,” “This is only the beginning, continue the fight!” Some protesters wore T-shirts that read “There is a thief [around us]!”

A quarrel broke out between demonstrators waving Turkish flags and shouting anti-Erdoğan slogans and Erdoğan’s guards during the protest. President Erdoğan’s nephew and bodyguard Ali Erdoğan reportedly attacked the protesters, and then a scuffle broke out between police officers and Erdoğan’s guards. The New York City police reportedly attempted to take a guard into custody.

President Erdoğan entered the hotel through a back door due to the protest. While the anti-Erdoğan protest was taking place in New York, some Erdoğan supporters also chanted slogans in favor of him. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi, former European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış and current EU Minister Volkan Bozkır, who were accompanying Erdoğan, were also heckled. Erdoğan left the hotel by a back door due to the ongoing protest and headed to the airport to return to Turkey.

Erdoğan arrived in New York on Sept. 21 to attend the UN General Assembly. He had a number of meetings with foreign leaders and delivered a fiery speech in the UN General Assembly, slamming the UN for its lack of action against the Syrian civil war and Gaza offensive. During his trip he announced for the first time that Turkey’s role in the US-led anti-Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) could include military support.