Turkish court detains Alparslan Celik for three months

Celik and his six accomplices were officially arrested for the illegal possession of firearms. It is significant that during the court session yesterday, Celik denied the charges of murdering the Russian pilot.

The investigation will be revealing

Turkish prosecutors, in addition to presenting the main charges of violating the law on weapons, intend to evaluate the degree of Celik’s involvement in the murder of the Russian pilot. "The prosecutor asked Celik to explain what happened during the shooting of the parachuting Russian pilot. Celik replied, stating that he warned the people close to him not to shoot." - reported HaberturkTV. However, Celik had previously said to various media agencies that he had personally killed the pilot.

What happened?

A Sukhoi Su-24 was shot down near the Turkish border on November 24th by Turkey's military. After the plane was shot, pilot Oleg Peshkov ejected, but was shot by Celik as he drifted down towards the ground. The navigating pilot also ejected safely but was whisked away by rescuers after landing.

Deterioration of relations between Erdogan and Washington

Celik's arrest took place in the background of worsening relations between Turkey and the US leadership.
During Erdogan's visit to Washington a few days ago, the US National Press Club accused Erdogan of trying to export oppression.

President Obama did not meet Erdogan on this trip, a snub some have interpreted as a sign of tension between Washington and Ankara.

US diplomats said "Erdogan's increasingly aggressive and undemocratic behavior in Turkey", plus what they describe as "his mercurial role in the conflict in neighboring Syria", has diminished his standing in the Obama administration.

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