Investigation Launched into Garo Paylan’s Allegations

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Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched investigation into Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) Garo Paylan’s allegations that there are assassination plans against dissident academics, journalists and politicians from Turkey who migrated to Europe.

The statement issued by the prosecutor’s office read, “An investigation has been launched into press conference held by HDP MP Garo Paylan at Grand National Assembly of Turkey on December 20, and MP Paylan has been invited as witness to be heard”.

What did Paylan say?

HDP İstanbul MP Garo Paylan said that he received information that there are assassination plans against dissident academics, journalists, writers who had to move to European countries during Justice and Development Party (AKP) government term, and Alawi and Armenian spiritual leaders.

Paylan told Deutsche Welle Türkçe there are certain people put under protection in Germany and some other European countries.

In his interview to İrfan Aktar from Gazete Duvar, Paylan said that there is Gladio of Turkey behind the assassination plans and three assassins like Ogün Samast* have been assigned for such murders.

Law Enforcement Agency of Germany Confirms ‘Assassination Claim’

Concerning HDP MP Paylan’s allegation that there are assassination preparations against some people from Turkey living in Europe, officials from Law Enforcement Agency of Germany said: “We are aware of the threat”.

According to a report by Gezal Hacer from Deutsche Welle Türkçe, the officials stated that the allegation of assassination preparations is still being investigated. In the statement, the officials said, “We are aware of the danger in question and still doing situation assessment. However, we expect you to appreciate that we won’t share information about the details and protective measures”

* Ogün Samast is the assassin of Hrant Dink, the Agos weekly newspaper Editor-in-Chief