The trial of suspects involved in last year's deadly coup attempt in Istanbul will begin today at a Silivri district court. The suspects are accused of charges ranging from attempting to topple the government and eliminating Parliament, to murder and founding a terrorist group. The Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) is accused of carrying out the coup attempt through its operatives within the military, judiciary and police. The fugitive leader of the cult, Fetullah Gülen, who currently resides in the Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania in the U.S., faces charges that carry 92 life sentences. For the time being, repeated requests from Turkey for his extradition have fallen on deaf ears.

Those that face charges in the Istanbul trial include six generals and 17 officers. A total of 15 of the suspects are in jail pending their trails, while the rest will be tried in absentia.

Plaintiffs include 89 people who were killed by the putschists on late July 15 and early July 16, when ordinary civilians flooded the streets to resist the coup plotters.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, First Army Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar, several senior officers, Parliamentarians, members of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Istanbul headquarters and several heads of communications companies are also listed as plaintiffs in the case.

The indictment includes the pre-coup planning undertaken by plotters, dividing the province into control zones.

Testimonies in previous trials from several suspects point to the use of communication applications, including WhatsApp, on the night of the coup attempt.

Gülen is accused of being the leader of the coup, using Adil Öksüz, a fugitive academic, as his principal means of communications with his operatives within the military.

Öksüz, a mid-level academic, was appointed as FETÖ's senior imam of the military and he oversaw the plotting and the execution of the coup from the Akıncılar Air Base in Ankara.

After the coup failed, Öksüz was detained along with other senior plotters at the base, but was released under shadowy circumstances. He remains a fugitive.

The indictment includes the testimony of one suspect, retired Air Force Col. Gürol Doğan, that shows how FETÖ infiltrated into the military and planning to take over control from within.

Doğan, in his testimonies on Nov. 7, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2016, said he was first introduced to FETÖ when he was in middle school.

In 1983, a year after he was admitted to the Air Forces Academy, he became involved with the cult through a classmate, Semih Koşucuoğlu.

They used the word "captain" when referring to Gülen, he told the questioners. He said he attended speeches held by Gülen.

Once Gülen told them, "Our work is long term. Don't rush, hide yourselves. We will occupy the most senior positions in the military, the police, the education system and the judiciary. When we take action, at least 20 or 30 years from now, no one will be able to react."

Doğan said he was moved to the Air Forces Psychological Operations Department in 2000, and received the order that he could drink alcohol to prevent detection of his FETÖ links. Selçuk Başyiğit, who was his FETÖ link within the department told him, "As a cemaat [(a congregation), as FETÖ was referred to amongst members], we have reached the major-general level within the military. Once the 'captain' gives the order, we have plenty of F16s that will take off."

Doğan said he was moved to the Air Forces Psychological Operations Department in 2000, and received the order that he could drink alcohol to prevent detection of his FETÖ links. Selçuk Başyiğit, who was his FETÖ link within the department told him, "As a cemaat [as FETÖ was referred to amongst members], we have reached the major-general level within the military. Once the 'captain' gives the order, we have plenty of F16s that will take off."