Suspect released in Russian envoy murder case

By Serdar Acil, Cemil Murat Budak and Baris Kilic

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish court Tuesday ordered the release of a defendant on probation in the case over the assassination of Russia’s ambassador in Turkey.

The 2nd Heavy Penal Court in the capital Ankara ruled the probation of Ayse Sogut, who was among 28 defendants standing trial in the 2016 assassination of Andrey Karlov.

She was the wife of Sahin Sogut, the leader of Mevlut Mert Altintas in the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Altintas -- an off-duty police officer linked to FETO terrorist organization -- killed Karlov at an Ankara art gallery opening on Dec. 19, 2016. During a standoff, Altintas was shot dead by police.

Before her release, Ayse Sogut was pending trial behind bars for ten months.

She sought her release, citing the care of her children.

Sogut was released on condition that she will wear an electronic bracelet without leaving her home.

On Jan. 8, 28 suspects went on trial in Ankara over the December 2016 assassination of Russian ambassador.

Twenty-eight suspects -- including Fetullah Gulen, the U.S.-based leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- were indicted for violating the constitutional order, being a member of a terror group, and murder with terrorist intent.

In December, the court had accepted the indictment that recommended various jail terms -- including aggravated life sentences -- for 28 suspects, including Gulen.

Underlining FETO’s involvement, the indictment stated that the group plotted the murder -- originally planned for June -- as a "provocation” to harm Turkish-Russian relations ahead of the defeated coup of July 2016 as well as to sow chaos in Turkey.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

*Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez