Hulusi Akar

Akar sued Özgür Özel following particularly harsh remarks concerning, among other matters, his attitude towards fellow military officers during the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases. After intermediate rulings, the Court of Cassation ultimately held in 2025 that the remarks constituted severe political criticism and dismissed Akar's damages claim.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The circumstances in which Serra Akar, after studying "pre-medical biology" at DePaul University, obtained a transfer to Hacettepe medical school in the early 2000s resurfaced in 2025 in debate over equal treatment at universities, with some opponents seeing it as a privilege linked to her father. The matter was debated in Parliament, and Hulusi Akar personally defended it.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Political responsibility

Özgür Özel accused Akar of having a phrase referring to Atatürk's path removed from an anthem or ceremony linked to TCG Anadolu. Akar denied this and brought a damages action; in 2024, a court awarded him 10,000 lira in damages.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

Akar repeatedly made statements challenging the militarisation of certain Greek islands and defending Turkish claims in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, during a period marked by reciprocal threats, interceptions and intense military tensions with Greece.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Akar defended the possibility of a new ground operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria and called on the United States to understand Turkey's security concerns, while Washington warned that an offensive would destabilise the fight against Islamic State.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

As Defence Minister when the Russian S-400s were delivered, Akar defended their acquisition despite US warnings about incompatibility with NATO systems. Turkey was excluded from the F-35 programme, and Washington imposed CAATSA sanctions on the Turkish defence sector.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following the Turkish military operation in Gara, northern Iraq, thirteen Turkish citizens held by the PKK were found dead. The opposition demanded answers from Akar concerning intelligence, preparation of the operation, air strikes and the decision to undertake a military operation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

Under Akar, Turkey deployed military assistance to the government in Tripoli. In December 2020, Akar warned that Khalifa Haftar's forces and their supporters would become "legitimate targets" if they attacked Turkish forces, in a conflict where the United Nations denounced violations of the arms embargo by foreign supporters of both sides.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

As chief of the general staff, Akar faced parliamentary and media questions about the measures taken after the warning received before the attempted coup of 15 July 2016 and why he had not testified orally before the inquiry commission, responding in writing instead.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility