An Istanbul court yesterday ordered the detention of judges Mustafa Başer and Metin Özçelik pending an investigation into gross misconduct for illegally trying to release 76 Gülenist operatives. The two judges are accused of illegally ordering the release of 76 suspects, including police officers, accused of plotting against the government as part of the Gülen Movement. The 76 suspects were arrested last December pending their trial.The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) suspended the two judges earlier this week and then launched an investigation. Reports as Daily Sabah went to press indicated that Özçelik was in custody. The development came a day after the National Security Council (MGK), which brings together the top military and civilian officials of the country, decided to include combatting the Gülen Movement as official state policy.In the seven-hour meeting, the MGK advised the government to prepare the necessary legal framework to combat the group, which is led by U.S.-based Fethullah Gülen. The resolution is expected to be included in the Red Book, which lists top security policies and is updated every five years. The movement is accused of infiltrating the police and judiciary with the aim of overthrowing the government through the December 17 and Dec. 25 operations.In the official statement from the MGK, it was highlighted that "the fight against the 'parallel structure,' as well as other illegal organizations that threaten national security will continue with determination." In addition to the Gülenists, the meeting also touched on the widely-debated topic of the ongoing reconciliation process. Emphasizing continuing the process with determination in efforts to successfully finalize it, the MGK discussed the recent developments in the process to end terror in the country. Earlier in April, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, who is the Cabinet member that regularly holds talks on the Kurdish issue with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), also underlined that achieving success in the reconciliation process is significant for the sake of Turkey's future.With a little over one month left until the June 7 general elections, the MGK addressed possible precautions to be taken during the elections. Tackling the issues that relate to the country's peace and security, the MGK discussed the latest developments since the February 26 meeting, and proposed possible security measures that public firms and institutions should establish. Security measures against any possible occurrence that may disturb public order and security during the general elections was also presented to the Cabinet for review following the meeting. In efforts to enhance the safety of the elections, Supreme Election Board (YSK) President, Sadi Güven, confirmed that the top election body has enhanced its precautionary measures in the energy sector as well for safety for the elections.Additionally, the MGK discussed Western countries' latest remarks recognizing the 1915 incidents as genocide. While the European Parliament adopted a resolution that urges all EU member states and Turkey to recognize the events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, German as well as Russian officials also made statements recognizing the deportation of Armenians in 1915 as genocide as European Parliament. The official MGK statement underlines that the council has reviewed the statements and resolutions regarding 1915 by some countries and institutions and says: "The statements and resolutions are far beyond historical facts and contains political appeals, thus they are considered null and void due to their nature."Aside from national issues, regional developments and their impact on Turkey's national security was also among the many critical topics discussed at the meeting. As threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and the emergence of a security issue created by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad remain, the meeting comprehensively reviewed the current situation in Syria and Iraq, which is affecting the stability and regional security. The situation of the train-and-equip program for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters and the strategic cooperation between Turkey and the U.S. in this field was also discussed in previous MGK meetings. In addition, the latest developments in Libya and Yemen as well as the Middle East and North Africa were addressed and Turkey's relationship with neighboring countries was discussed.