Turkish ambassador confirms Veysel Akcay is wanted in Turkey
In connection with the controversy surrounding the abduction of Turkish national Veysel Akcay, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Yazal met with the media to clarify the stance of the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the issue. During the meeting with the press, Yazal also confirmed that Veysel Akcay has an active arrest warrant for his connection to FETO, classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey.
Ambassador Yazal emphasized that the Turkish government would never conduct clandestine operations in Mongolia without the explicit permission of the government.
“The case surrounding Veysel Akcay is not a recent one. In 2013, we requested the Mongolian government to extradite Akcay to Turkey. Since the coup attempt in 2016, the Turkish government has intensified its efforts in this regard. Outside of Akcay, there are several Turkish nationals in Mongolia that are wanted. If the Mongolian side agrees to extradite these individuals, their case will be heard in court of law. If the court decides they are innocent, they will be exonerated,” said Ambassador Yazal.
The ambassador maintained that the Turkish Embassy had no involvement in the abduction of Akcay. If any operations were to be conducted, local law enforcement agencies must be informed, underlined Ahmat Yazal.
“In regards to the incident on July 27, Mongolians had the right idea about protecting human rights. Veysel Akcay manipulated the media and alumni of Turkish schools to paint himself as an innocent teacher. But this individual is a representative of FETO and he has transparently admitted to this in the past,” Yazal said.
Having lived in Mongolia for the past 25 years, Akcay is associated with the network of Muslim Cleric Fethullah Gulen, currently exiled in the US, whom Turkish authorities blame for the failed coup attempt in 2016. The aborted coup in Turkey in July 2016 was blamed by authorities on the Gulenist movement.
The Organized Crime Division of the Criminal Police Department is conducting an investigation into the matter in conjunction with several other agencies and police departments.
“How a country views it’s citizens is their issue. What happens on Mongolian soil is to be investigated by the Mongolian police and prosecutors -- it is our issue,” said Justice Minister Ts.Nyamdorj when asked to comment..