February Turkish Coup

On Feb. 7th, the Erdoğan government was overthrown by the military and protesters. The coup, caused by pent up anger over economic and political troubles and humiliation globally, resulted in the end to the regime of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and its replacement with a Kemalist, unionist government.

## Causes

The coup of the government was committed for three main reasons, all of which contributed to steep drops in support for Erdoğan throughout the month.

### Inflation

Beginning in January but worsening throughout February, the Turkish economy experienced massive inflation due to poor fiscal policies on behalf of the Erdoğan government. On Jan. 17th, the annual inflation rate was said to be at a novel 178%, causing protests. On Jan. 21st, the rate had grown to 216% with greater outrage and military disapproval of the regime. On Jan. 26th, inflation reached 361% to further anger, growing to 415% two days later. When the rate reached 482%, President Erdoğan went into hiding in a bunker. Further economic calamity ensued when the government printed millions to attempt to pay for additional land in the Black Sea. When the deal fell through, the money went into circulation, raising the inflation level to 535%.

The government continually denied these metrics, claiming that it was always far lower than reported, further exacerbating tensions throughout the country.

### Foreign Humiliation

*(See: Anti-Muslim Violence in Russia)*

Turkey's citizens also saw news of what was happening to its own officials and citizens in Russia. Attacks by radical Orthodox Christians on Turks and Muslims in Moscow became an international ignominy for the government. At St. Vladimir Church, a local clerical fascist gave a speech to an angry mob, saying "The Turkish and Chechen heretics are behind the plot to destroy Russia! They support the Muslim plague that is taking over Russian society! People Kill the Heretics and the Globalist spies! Burn and loot their homes! As we will never have a mosque in Sochi (referring to the plans to construct a mosque in Sochi)!" The rally developed into a riot which led to the reported deaths of 11,426 Muslims, many of whom were of Turkish descent. The government offered police assistance, but was met with silence.

A week later, the Turkish Embassy in Moscow was bombed by radicals. Limited personnel were evacuated, but, while firefighters were trying to fight the flames, the second floor collapsed, likely killing the ambassador. The full extent of the casualties was never found. The Russian government allowed gendarmerie to come to the embassy and establish a zone of control around it, which was attempted but abandoned quickly after protests and attacks by radicals. Eventually, the fleeing gendarmerie opened fire on the protesters, which angered paramilitaries across the region, with Turkish embassies across the world being attacked by Russian nationals. The worst of this was seen in Syria, where women and children were slaughtered bloodily in a public place before being chased by authorities. Rioting in Moscow, which continued to become more and more violent, resulted in the Russian government shelling disorderly territories.

### Civil Liberties

The Erdoğan regime had become infamous throughout the world for its crackdown on civil liberties.

## Preparation

Throughout the month of February, a hidden organization plotted against the Erdoğan government. Unknown to all but its own members, it was integral to the coup effort and organized much of it. It is believed to have been started during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization began spreading posters repeating "Reactionarism Shall Not Pass," an unofficial motto for the leaders of the 28 February Coup d'Etat, throughout the city of Ankara. Law enforcement removed the posters, but they always reappeared the following morning, and no suspects could be found.

## Events

On Feb. 2nd, with a newly announced growth in the inflation rate, protesters took to major cities throughout Turkey. A military report declassified following the coup indicated that the armed forces were becoming frustrated. The government was viewed by many as losing control of eastern Turkey as well as many urban centers. Following the next inflation report, the protesters returned and never fully dispersed.

On Jan. 27th, with another inflation report and talk of violence against Turks in Russia, protests increased in Istanbul and Ankara. In Taksim Square in Istanbul, the central government cracked down violently, killing 218 and injuring many more. Many members of the military turned on the government following the incident. Rumors of a coup became very real as more of the population despised the Erdoğan government.

Turkey's Minister of Finance and the Treasury Nureddin Nebati faced an attempted assassination in his apartment; he did, however, survive. The motivations of the assassins, left at large when police refused to name or arrest them, were ostentatiously due to his poor state of the economy while under his control.

When the inflation rate grew to 428%, President Erdoğan retreated to a hidden bunker, giving a speech to the country hours later calling the inflation reports lies and the protesters terrorists. On Feb. 28th, notably the same day as the earlier 28 February Coup in 1997, the Turkish Armed Forces seized control of the government and relieved Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of office in the name of the philosophy of Atatürk. They promised to return the country to democracy upon securing control of the state and calming down the economy. The Armed Forces declared martial law for 90 days, arrested former President Erdoğan, Minister of the Interior Süleyman Soylu, and Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar, and instituted a curfew. Over the course of March, the provisional government instituted several economic reforms, campaigning for North Cyprus to join Turkey, and fighting Kurdish groups in the region.

## Aftermath

The overthrow of the Erdoğan government led to what many scholars have considered the restoration of Turkish civil liberties and saved the country from complete economic, social, diplomatic, and political collapse. With inflation nearing 500% by Feb. 28th, economists predicted that the Turkish dollar would reach nearly 0 value within days. Had it not been for the reforms ordered immediately, all of Turkey would have been bankrupted. Nevertheless, the February Turkish Coup did not solve Turkey's energy shortage, as few sanctions were lifted following the change in government.

Erdoğan himself was put on trial and found guilty of high level treason, corruption, anti-secular activities, and terrorism and sentenced to life in prison. Minister Soylu was convicted of corruption, treason and allowing terrorists to pass into the country; he was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Minister Akar was found innocent and released.