What is the Ergenekon operation?

Then the investigation widened and transformed into an operation to crackdown on the "Ergenekon Terror Organization", which allegedly aimed at paving the way for a military coup against the government.Â

More than 100 people were taken into custody in the seven waves of the operation, while 86 of them were arrested, including journalists and retired commanders.

The Ergenekon organization was claimed to be the mastermind behind the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and a plot to kill Nobel prize-winner, Turkish author, Orhan Pamuk.

However the Ergenekon operation intensified after the closure case was filed against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The operation was not limited to retired army members or ultra-nationalists, but widened to prominent opponents of the AKP.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has previously said the closure case was a response to the government’s determination in the Ergenekon operation. However some observers say the wider Ergenekon operation could be seen as an instrument to suppress the opponents of the government.