Notorious Gülenist tweeter's scandalous messages shake CHP
Turkish media outlets reported on Monday that a former police officer, Emre Uslu, a well-known figure of the Gülen Movement, is behind the controversial social media accounts under the name Fuat Avni. Over the past several days, Akşam and Star dailies reported scandalous private messages between Fuat Avni and Gülenist police officers, and also two parliamentarians from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).In one of the Twitter conversations with a Gülenist police officer, Avni is reportedly saying that the movement holds sex tapes of 45 CHP deputies and they all are saved by Gülen himself.In another alleged private message, Avni told the CHP's Istanbul deputy Umut Oran that the movement is wiretapping President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and it will publish recordings to achieve electoral success for the CHP. Oran denied the allegations and said he did not have a conversation with the movement's anonymous Twitter user.The claims lead to a crisis within the main opposition CHP, which collaborated with the movement during the last local and presidential elections to end Erdoğan's leadership.The CHP's former Executive Board (MYK) member and adviser to former CHP leader Deniz Baykal, Savcı Sayan, said that the party had been under Gülenist control for over four years, and added that he previously proved Baykal's sex-tape, which led to his resignation, was plotted by the movement, remarking that the current CHP administration did not pay attention to his warnings. Former CHP deputy Şahin Mengü also criticized his party for allowing Gülenist infiltrators to control an almost century-old party.In recent days, the notorious Twitter user Avni revealed the details of a number of police and judicial operations before the incidents occurred. Thereafter, the Gölbaşı Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the person or people who post tweets from the account. Moreover, a Penal Court of Peace decided to block the Twitter and Facebook account used by Avni on the grounds that the information shared on these accounts violates the confidentiality of the investigation. Security officials announced last week that 10 officials have been identified in the Istanbul Police Department and are now accused of supplying Avni with the leaks.Local media outlets also reported that Uslu sent direct messages via the Avni Twitter account to Gülenist police officers who leaked information about upcoming operations. According to the reports, Uslu mentioned his name to one police officer in order to assure that he would receive payment. The leaked Twitter direct messages also reveal that there is an alliance between the CHP and the Gülen Movement, which allegedly infiltrated key state institutions with an aim to overthrow the government. "When the CHP comes to power, you will see that they are going to promote all of you," Uslu said to one police officer who leaked information to him. However, Uslu rejected claims that he is behind the Avni Twitter account via his website on February 16.Politicians have discussed an alleged alliance between the CHP and the Gülen Movement, which is considered a national threat by the government, for a while. Allegations of the alliance first surfaced around the time of the local elections that took place on March 30, 2014, and are now raising an increasing number of eyebrows as more developments supporting the claim are disclosed. In recent weeks Birgül Ayman Güler, a former CHP İzmir deputy, accused the party of forming an alliance with the Gülen Movement during the March 30 local elections cooperating with different elements of the movement in provinces and districts. After criticizing the party, Güler faced disciplinary action by the CHP administration and later resigned from the party.Contributed by Evrin Güvendik
Last Update: February 19, 2015 09:54