The failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt was not a plan improvised in a single night but the culmination of months of preparation that accelerated after Türkiye's Nov. 1, 2015 general election, according to court files and findings from official investigations into the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
The terrorist group had spent years infiltrating state institutions under the guise of religious, educational and charitable activities before shifting toward an attempt to seize state power through military force.
After the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) regained its parliamentary majority in the Nov. 1 election, FETÖ concluded that its efforts to expand political influence through bureaucratic networks had failed, prompting senior members of the group to move forward with plans for a military coup.
Coup planning begins
Preparations began in November 2015 with meetings involving key civilian coordinators, including Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz, who are considered central figures responsible for coordinating the group's military structure.
