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Some 2,000 Turkish soldiers purged since end of state of emergency

ISPARTA, TURKEY - OCTOBER 12 : President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) views soldiers parading during the badge ceremony of specialized sergeant commando trainees at Counter Terrorism School and Training Center Command in Isparta, Turkey on October 12, 2018. AFP PHOTOS

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has dismissed 2,049 members from the service for alleged ties to the Gülen movement since the end of a two-year-long state of emergency declared immediately after a 2016 coup attempt, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, citing army sources.

In the same period 176 retired military personnel were stripped of their benefits arising from military service.

Turkey accuses the Gülen movement of orchestrating the abortive putsch, although it strongly denies any involvement.

The report indicated that military investigations to identify Gülen followers have resumed.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced in April that since the coup attempt 16,540 military members were fired for alleged Gülen ties.

The judicial and administrative process is ongoing for 6,154 people, Col. Tamer Zincir, a spokesperson for the ministry, told reporters at a press conference.

The state of emergency ended in July 2018.

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