ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey issued an arrest warrant on Friday for former CIA official, Graham Fuller, for alleged involvement to last year’s failed coup attempt which killed more than 240 people and injured thousands more.
The former vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council of the CIA is accused of “violating the Turkish constitution, attempting to overturn the government, interfering in the government’s duties and espionage,” as reported by state-run Anadolu Agency.
The warrant also states that Fuller was in Turkey on July 15, 2016, the date of the coup attempt and left the country shortly after the failure of the attempted takeover.
Fuller has alleged ties to US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen who has been accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government of orchestrating the attempt to seize power.
Fuller reportedly assisted Gulen to secure his US residency in the late 1990’s and is an outspoken supporter of the cleric.
The arrest could possibly further sour relations between Ankara and Washington.
Tensions have mounted between the two countries with Erdogan upset at US authorities issuing arrest warrants for 13 members of his security detail in the spring. The warrants were issued for those alleged to have participated in assaults against protesters outside of the Turkish embassy during Erdogan’s visit to Washington.
Ankara has also not been satisfied with US support for the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) against ISIS in Syria. The ruling AKP also criticizes the United States for not extraditing Gulen, who Ankara blames for orchestrating last year's failed military coup.
Gulen denies the accusations and has denounced Erdogan’s consolidation of power, calling him a “dictator.”
Turkey and the United States have taken reciprocal measures against each other, restricting issuing visas after Turkey arrested a Turkish national employed at the US consulate in Istanbul also on allegations of ties to the Gulen Movement.
Turkey has already arrested 50,000 from the military, police, and other sectors in addition to dismissing over 150,000 officials throughout the past year, drawing international criticism.
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