US Reaffirms Support for Turkish Democracy One Year After Failed Coup

he US government praised the citizens of Turkey who opposed and helped foil a coup attempt to topple the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a year ago, according to US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government praised the citizens of Turkey who opposed and helped foil a coup attempt to topple the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a year ago, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"One year ago, Turkey’s brave and dedicated citizens of all backgrounds and political views defended their democracy against an attempted coup," Nauert said on Friday. "We reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Turkey’s democracy."

The government commended the bravery of everyone who took to the streets to preserve the rights and freedoms of their democratic society a year ago, Nauert added.

Since the failed coup, 50,000 Turks have been arrested and another 150,000 sacked on suspicion of being involved in the bid to overthrow Erdogan’s government. Ankara has accused Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup attempt. Turkey has submitted information to Washington demanding that Gulen, who is living in the United States, be extradited.

Earlier on Friday, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on US authorities to track Gulen’s whereabouts while considering his extradition.