Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Ankara highly appreciates the support provided by other countries to Turkey during the events connected with the military coup attempt of July 2016, the administration of Turkey’s President told Trend.

“The military coup attempt was a serious test for the people of Turkey," the presidential administration said. “On this day, Turkey once again recognized its friends, who supported the government of the country”

The presidential administration also noted that the people of Turkey proved to the whole world their adherence to democratic values, and not to chaos and instability.

"Thanks to its people, Turkey was able to prevent a military coup attempt," the presidential administration said.

The events on the occasion of the anniversary of the military coup attempt in Turkey began in Ankara on July 11 with participation of political leaders of the country.

Eighty one provinces of Turkey will host events dedicated to this date from July 11 to 16, the main of which will be held in Ankara and Istanbul, where monuments to the victims of rebels will be opened. Special sessions will be held in the country's parliament.

The deadly coup attempt in July 2016 was the bloodiest coup attempt in Turkey’s political history. On July 15 2016, a section of the Turkish military launched a coordinated operation in several major cities to topple the government and unseat the president.

Soldiers and tanks took to the streets and a number of explosions rang out in Ankara and Istanbul. Fighter jets dropped bombs on the parliament, while the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hulusi Akar, was kidnapped.

As news of the coup attempt spread via social media and TV, thousands of ordinary citizens gathered in streets and squares around Ankara and Istanbul to oppose the coup.

The crowds resisted tank fire and air bombardments and, with the help of loyalist soldiers and police forces, they together with the government defeated the coup attempt in early hours of July 16.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred more than 240 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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