ANKARA (Sputnik) — Commenting on the possibility of Gulen's extradition, Basbug stressed that if the United States fails to extradite him it could mean that they intend to continue to use him. If they extradite him, it would mean that they do not need him anymore.
"There is foreign support of this rebellion. Where does Gulen live? In the United States. Who gives him such an opportunity? CIA. Do you think that Gulen was granted a US residence permit just for nothing, and the US intelligence doesn't use him?" Basbug said in an interview televised on CNN Turk.
On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey that was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen has denied the accusations.
