Retired Admiral Türker Ertürk Detained Over Broadcast Statements

Retired Admiral Türker Ertürk has been detained following statements he made during a television appearance. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had already launched an investigation into him ex officio due to content shared on his social media accounts.

Born in Trabzon in 1957, Ertürk's educational journey began with primary school in Istanbul and secondary education in Ankara and Trabzon. He entered the Naval High School in Heybeliada in 1971 and later graduated from the Naval Academy. He joined the navy as an officer in 1979.

Ertürk pursued further military education, completing studies at the Naval War College (1988-1990), the Armed Forces Academy (1992), and the NATO Defense College in Rome (1999). His naval career included 15 years of service on ships, during which he commanded three warships, including the Alçıtepe Destroyer from 1996 to 1998.

He held various command and staff positions, including roles in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (1985-1987) and as a Naval Attaché in London (2000-2003). He was promoted to Rear Admiral in August 2006 and served as the Black Sea Region Commander (2006-2008), where he initiated the creation of the Gazi Alemdar Museum Ship. He later commanded the Naval Academy (2008-2010) before resigning from military service in August 2010.

After leaving the military, Ertürk became involved in politics, joining the Republican People's Party (CHP) for approximately five years. He ran as a parliamentary candidate and competed for the Trabzon Provincial Chairmanship before resigning from the CHP in November 2014. He co-founded the Anadolu Party in November 2014 but left that party in March 2015 due to political disagreements. He rejoined the CHP in 2019.

Ertürk has also been active in media, participating in numerous television and radio programs, publishing articles, and speaking at conferences in Turkey, Europe, and America.