Sweeping Promotions in Turkish Gendarmerie Leadership Take Effect August 30

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a decree published in the Official Gazette ordering the promotion of 7 generals and 18 colonels in the General Gendarmerie Command, all effective August 30.

Under the decree, Brigadier Generals Ünsal Bulut and Murat Bulut were promoted to the rank of Major General, while five colonels — Hüseyin Bekmez, Hamdi Gülpınar, Ömer Arısever, Feruh Taraktaş, and Mustafa Baktçıbınar — advanced to the rank of Brigadier General. An additional 18 colonels were promoted to Brigadier General.

The decree also covered the reassignment of 78 generals and colonels across new posts. The most prominent transfer saw Istanbul Gendarmerie Commander Major General Yusuf Kenan Topçu moved to head the Security Corps Command in Van. The newly promoted Major General Ünsal Bulut was appointed in his place as Deputy Commander of the General Gendarmerie Command, while Major General Murat Bulut was named Second Deputy Commander. Major General Metin Doz assumed the Security Command presidency, replacing the transferred officer.