Metin Gurcan, a well-known Turkish defense analyst and the founder of the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), was sentenced to prison on Tuesday on allegations of "political and military espionage," according to local media.
Former Turkish military officer Gurcan was one of the co-founders of the DEVA party, which is managed by Ali Babacan, a former deputy prime minister in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP party.
On Friday, Turkish authorities detained him.
"I'm being held on suspicion of political espionage." The cops have arrived... They're looking for something. Gurcan tweeted last week, "I am surprised and I request your assistance."
According to the private NTV station, Gurcan was then imprisoned on Monday.
"As far as we know," Babacan told Haberturk television, "Metin (Gurcan) has no access to any confidential state document." "Because he isn't employed by the government."
Gurcan recently criticized the Turkish government's deals with the United Arab Emirates, claiming that Turkey will be compelled to make sacrifices in exchange for UAE investment.
The UAE unveiled a $10 billion fund for investments in Turkey on Wednesday during a visit to Ankara by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
AFP
