Ankara detains ex-prime minister's aide suspected of having links with Gulen Movement

Turkish authorities detained Gurcan Balik, ex-adviser of former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, as part of the ongoing investigation into the thwarted coup attempt in the country, Sputnik news agency reported on Friday.

According to the Hurriyet newspaper, Balik, suspended from diplomatic office on July 26, is suspected of links to the Gulen movement.

The official had run secretariat of former Turkish Foreign Ministers Ali Babacan and Ahmet Davutoglu who later appointed Balik his adviser while in prime ministerial office in 2014-2016, the media outlet added.

Supporters of US-based dissident cleric Fethullah Gulen are accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the coup attempt which took place on July 15 and was suppressed next day, yet Gulen denies his involvement in the plot.

Source : MENA