Foreign minister: The 2 FETO fugitives remain at large

ANKARA

Turkey’s foreign minister Friday denied media claims of the capture of two accused Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) members, a former prosecutor and a college professor.

Speaking to reporters after a visit by his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu denied the claims, adding, "But for two days we have been receiving various tips."

Cavusoglu said all tips about the whereabouts of members of the violent terror cult, including former prosecutor Zekeriya Oz and Professor Adil Oksuz, are being "carefully" evaluated by Turkish authorities.

"We are in close contact with Georgian authorities," Cavusoglu said of the two fugitives, who were allegedly captured Friday in Georgia.

Oz, who was involved in a 2013 corruption investigation that targeted senior ministers, fled to Armenia via Georgia last August, shortly before a Turkish court issued an arrest warrant for him.

Oksuz, an assistant theology professor at the Black Sea province’s Sakarya University who is suspected of being one of the top coup-plotters, was found the night of the defeated coup at Ankara’s Akinci 4th Main Jet Base and released after a brief interrogation. Later a warrant was issued for his capture.

- ‘We are on Turkey’s side’

During his visit, including a tour of parliament, which was bombed the night of the July 15 defeated coup, Zarif said that his visit shows that Iran is on the side of the Turkish nation and democracy.

Zarif said that right from the start they condemned the coup attempt, adding that Iran would continue to stand with Turkey. "The way the Turkish people went out [the night of the coup] demonstrated once again that the public's will comes before everything."

Turkey's government says the coup attempt, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen who has lived in self-imposed exile in U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.