President Erdogan meets with widow and daughters of slain nationalist figure

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a closed-door meeting with Ayse Ates, the widow of the former Ulku Ocaklari, which is a Turkish nationalist organization, General Chairman Sinan Ates, and her daughters following his assassination.

The meeting took place at the presidential complex in Bestepe, Ankara, after President Erdogan’s meeting with the leader of the main opposition party Ozgur Ozel.

The meeting between Erdogan and Ayse Ates was announced by AK Party Spokesperson Omer Celik during a press conference, with the details of the discussion remaining undisclosed to the press.

Ayse Ates made a statement via her social media account following the meeting. Expressing gratitude for the courteous reception, Ayse Ates stated, “Drawing strength from the silence of our President, let whoever threatens and slanders us, whoever supports the crime and the criminal, reflect on what they said yesterday in light of what they will say tomorrow. Because justice will undoubtedly prevail.”

Sinan Ates, the former General Chairman of the Ulku Ocaklari, was assassinated on Dec. 30, 2022, when he and his friend Selman Bozkurt were attacked by two armed assailants on motorcycles as they exited a building in Kizilirmak neighborhood of Cankaya district.

While Bozkurt sustained injuries to his shoulder, Sinan Ates tragically lost his life. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office completed its investigation into the incident, sending the indictment against 22 suspects to Ankara’s 32nd Heavy Penal Court, where it was accepted.

The trial concerning Sinan Ates’s murder is scheduled to commence on July 1. 22 detained suspects will face charges of premeditated murder in the 32nd Heavy Penal Court of Ankara.

Additionally, among the 39 individuals investigated in connection with the incident, 17 have been banned from leaving the country pending further inquiry.

The 22 defendants face charges including premeditated murder, attempted murder, incitement to crime, and aiding and abetting. Prosecutors argue that Eray Ozyagci, Vedat Balkaya, and Suat Kurt acted as joint perpetrators, while Dogukan Cep and Tolgahan Demirbas are accused of incitement. The remaining defendants are alleged to have assisted in the commission of the crime.