A programme titled "July 15 Through the Eyes of Russians" was organised in Moscow, the capital of Russia, as part of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day events.
At a hotel in Moscow, Ambassador Tanju Bilgiç and a large number of Russian and Turkish citizens attended the event organised in cooperation with Türkiye's Embassy in Moscow, the Directorate of Communications, and the Yunus Emre Institute.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence honouring the martyrs, followed by the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem and the Russian Anthem. A video detailing the events of July 15 was also screened.
Türkiye's Ambassador to Moscow, Bilgiç, expressed in his speech that the July 15 coup attempt marked one of the darkest days in Türkiye's history. He said, "Our country faced a treacherous terrorist attack, where all our national values were targeted by the bloody coup attempt initiated by members of the Fetullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETO)." "The ruthless coup plotters targeted innocent people for their nefarious ambitions and did not refrain from even bombing our Veteran Parliament," he said.
Ambassador Bilgiç highlighted that on the night of July 15, the Turkish people defended Türkiye's future, standing against the attack aimed at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), even at the cost of their lives. He stated, "251 of our citizens who displayed remarkable heroism became martyrs, and more than 2,000 were injured. We always remember that July 15 was a true test of strength and perseverance for Türkiye."
Ambassador Bilgiç emphasised that FETO, responsible for this treacherous coup attempt, was attempting to further its concealed agenda under the pretence of NGOs, educational institutions, and a religious community, and stated the following:
"FETO is a unique example of a terrorist and organised crime group characterised by its multilayered structure, including international and clandestine cells. Confessions and disclosures from within the organisation have clearly revealed that the coup attempt on July 15 was orchestrated by the Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation. "This shadowy organisation, which abuses universal values for its own concealed agenda, poses a significant national security threat to all the countries and societies in which it functions."
Ambassador Bilgiç remarked that due to Türkiye's international cooperation initiatives, a significant portion of the FETO structures in friendly countries has been dismantled, noting, "Russia has been among the countries that acknowledged the FETO threat at an early stage and took necessary measures accordingly. Russia was also one of the first countries to condemn the July 15 coup attempt and express support for our country. I would like to thank again the authorities of the Russian Federation for this support."
"July 15 united the Turkish society"
Eyewitnesses from Russia to the events of July 15 participated in the panel as part of the event.
In the panel moderated by Russian news agency RIA correspondent Radik Amirov, Marina Karlova, the wife of former Russian Ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov, who died in an armed attack in Ankara on December 19, 2016, and journalist Nadejda Tomayli made speeches.
Stating that terrible events took place on the night of July 15, Karlova said, "Nobody expected it. Airplanes were flying. Fortunately, it was all over soon after. The people of Türkiye stood by their legitimate president, Erdoğan. Russia supported Erdoğan as well. I think it was the right thing to do."
Karlova noted that relations between Russia and Türkiye had gone through a difficult period and referenced the assassination of Ambassador Karlov following the July 15 coup attempt, saying:
"The administrations of both countries displayed common sense, even though the forces that opposed Erdoğan and assassinated the Ambassador attempted to undermine relations between Russia and Türkiye. Consequently, rather than deteriorating, the relations between our countries have indeed strengthened. My husband's contribution to the friendship between the two countries is remembered and honoured. I receive invitations to all events associated with Türkiye. I am grateful to the Turkish Embassy in Moscow for this reason."
Russian journalist Nadejda Tomayli remarked on how the coup attempt on July 15 served to unite Turkish society, stating, "July 15 demonstrated that external forces are incapable of disrupting the unity of the Turkish people."
"July 15, a watershed moment in modern Türkiye's political history"
Later on the panel, the authors of the book İstanbul Boğazı'nda Gölgeler Oyunu: Temmuz 2016. Rusya'dan Bakış (Shadow Play on the Bosphorus: July 2016, A View from Russia) – Amur Gadzhiev, Director of the Centre for Modern Turkish Studies in Russia, alongside journalists Radik Amirov and Faridun Usmanov, held a discussion on July 15.
Gadzhiev indicated that, as a Turkologist and journalist, he wished to observe the developments in Türkiye, which prompted the establishment of the Centre in 2016.
Emphasising that the July 15 coup attempt led to significant changes in both domestic and foreign politics in Türkiye, Gadzhiev stated, "July 15 marked a watershed moment in the political history of the modern Turkish Republic. Furthermore, Türkiye's foreign policy concerning Russia has undergone notable alterations. The two nations reconciled following the crisis."
Gadzhiev remarked that his book, "İstanbul Boğazı'nda Gölgeler Oyunu: Temmuz 2016. Rusya'dan Bakış", reflects both the July 15 coup attempt and the evolving relations between Russia and Türkiye. He added, “While writing the book, I discovered many aspects. The relations between Russia and Türkiye illustrate not so much cooperation as the prevailing regional circumstances and the development of international relations. The complex interactions between the two countries have emerged as a significant factor in regional politics.”
According to journalist Usmanov, the incidents on July 15 captivated the attention of Russian citizens, prompting them to publish a book. He said, "Our objective was to establish a historical account. Our book contains news regarding the events of July 15 in the Russian media, as well as the initial reactions and statements of the Russian administration in response to the coup attempt."
Noting that during the events of July 15, he was in Konya to attend a conference, Russian journalist and academic Amirov remarked, "I observed Turkish people taking to the streets. The sheer number of young people present astounded me. The unity of the Turkish people and their efforts to defend their nation captivated my attention. This demonstrates Türkiye's resilience in the face of both internal and external challenges."
At the end of the event, awards were presented to the participants in the essay competition organised as part of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
