The General Staff Presidency made the following announcement on its internet site last night (1 March) regarding Colonel Dursun Çiçek: "...the decision against prosecution taken by the General Staff Military Prosecutor was revoked because evidence has been obtained which proves the alleged document to be signed as the original. The reasons for the decision against prosecution dd. 24 June became void in the current investigation".

The "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces" was initially brought to the agenda by the news in June 2009 in the context of the Ergenekon case. The plan supposed to discredit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the religious movement led by Fethullah Gülen. Eventually, the document was proven to be authentic and signed by Colonel Çiçek, who had formerly denied any connection to the document.

The General Staff's announcement explained the judicial stages of the investigation since 24 June 2009 as follows:

1. The General Staff Prosecution decided against prosecution on 24 June after having investigated a photocopy of the document which was subject to the news in a newspaper on 12 June 2009. The office of a suspect had been searched in the scope of the investigation.

2. Chief of General Staff İlker Başbuğ announced in a press conference on 26 June 2009: "The decision against prosecution is not definite. We are a state governed by the rule of law. We are devoted to the principles of the rule of law. The investigation may be relaunched in case new proof, information, circumstantial evidence etc. regarding the authenticity of the document should emerge".

3. News and allegations were published in some newspapers on 26 October 2009 related to the document's authenticity and the signature. The General Staff Presidency Military Prosecution resumed the investigation.

4. Evidence regarding the authenticity of the signed document was obtained on 16 February 2010 after the "Document" was sent from the Istanbul Public Chief Prosecutor's Office to the General Staff Military Prosecutor's Office. Therefore, the reasons for the decision from 24 June became void in the current investigation and the decision against prosecution taken by the General Staff Military Prosecution was revoked.

5. In the course of the investigation, Naval Infantry General Staff Colonel Dursun Çiçek was sent to the Military Court upon the demand for his detention after the Military Prosecutor had confirmed his statement once more. The request for his detention was rejected by the General Staff Military Court on 1 March 2010.

6. The investigation is being continued by the Military Prosecutor's Office. Everybody should be reminded once more to respect the secrecy of the investigation and the presumption of innocence, to behave responsibly in this context and to patiently wait for the results of the judicial process. (BB/VK)