ANKARA (Web Desk) – Two Turkish pilots, who had shot down the Russian warplane in November last year, have also been arrested by the Turkish forces after the Friday night’s failed coup attempt in Turkey.
The downing of the Russian Su-24 had resulted in strained ties between the two countries tension and Moscow also issued economic and travel sanctions against Turkey.
Most of these sanctions ended last month when Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally apologised to Russia for the incident in a letter sent to President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, Turkish media, while quoting an unnamed security official, said that the two pilots involved in the downing of the Russian plane were also among the pro-coup soldiers detained by the police on Saturday morning.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the leader of the popular movement ‘Hizmat’, Fethullah Gullen, along with his supporters for orchestrating the coup, however, Fetullah has denied the claims alleging Erdogan of staging the coup to strengthen his rule.
President Erdogan also urged the United States to extradite Fethullah Gullen, who living in exile in Pennsylvania, vowing to punish him for high treason.
The failed military coup claimed more than 290 lives while hundred were left wounded. Meanwhile, over 7,500 people have been detained including top military officials for involvement in the conspiracy.
It is also pertinent to be mentioned here that Tayyip Erodgan received a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he strongly condemned the anti-constitutional acts against his government and extended his hope for an expeditious recovery/stability for Turkey.
They have also agreed to meet in person, which will most likely happen in the first week of August this year. However, the exact date of the meeting has not been decided yet.
