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Senior admiral forced to retire over suspected links with Ergenekon
Öğütçü was thought to be the most likely candidate to become the new naval forces commander. Observers believe the reason behind his retirement was his shadowy links to Ergenekon. According to a National Intelligence Organization (MİT) document, Öğütçü was one of the founders of the Karargah houses, which the Ergenekon investigation has revealed were meeting spots for generals plotting a coup d'état in addition to housing hit men and serving as a storage place for munitions.
Öğütçü was implicated in the placement of blocks of TNT and other explosives at the bottom of a submarine exhibited at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum. The TNT and other explosives were found by police last month after a document was discovered on a computer owned by a suspect previously detained as part of the Ergenekon probe. The explosives were to be detonated while a group of students visited the museum. Since Öğütçü was denied promotion, Adm. Eşref Uğur Yiğit became the new commander of the Naval Forces.
Vice Adm. Erdal Bucak was the strongest contender for promotion to the new head of Fleet Command, but was forced to retire. Bucak was harshly criticized for beating his wife earlier this year. Sources said the reason behind Bucak's retirement was his violence against members of his family.
Tuesday's YAŞ decisions also led to a first in the history of Turkey. Lt. Gen. Bilgin Balanlı was appointed as the vice deputy chief of general staff, a new position within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). With this appointment, the number of generals in the military rose to 15.
The YAŞ meeting also resulted in some controversial decisions, among which was the promotion of Naval Forces Col. Levent Görgeç as a rear admiral. Görgeç testified before Ergenekon prosecutors last week for suspected links to a large cache of ammunition unearthed during excavations on land owned by the İstek Foundation in İstanbul's Poyrazköy district.
Ten light anti-tank weapons, 20 percussion bombs, three other bombs, 250 grams of C4 explosives, 19 emergency flares, 10 hand grenades, 800 G3 bullets and a large number of revolver cartridges were found during excavations launched as part of the Ergenekon probe in Poyrazköy in April.
Maj. Gen. Rıdvan Ulugüler was promoted to lieutenant general after Tuesday's YAŞ meeting. Ulugüler is known to have categorized residents of nine neighborhoods in the central city of Kayseri according to their political, religious and familial backgrounds. In the past, Ulugüler sent military units under his command a list of places he deemed "problematic," noting that privates should be informed about the notification verbally and that the notification should never be hung on bulletin boards. Ulugüler's notification prompted a huge reaction from owners of public venues and neighborhoods that he deemed "problematic."
One of the most important decisions made at the YAŞ meeting was probably the denial of a promotion for senior Naval Forces Col. Dursun Çiçek. Çiçek's promotion was withheld for the third time, which was read by many observers as a reaction to a recent controversy that has received negative publicity.
Çiçek became the center of harsh criticism when his name appeared on a document allegedly prepared by the military, titled “Action Plan to Fight Reactionaryism.” The document detailed a plot to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement.
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