Yesterday, July 20, the second law suit against Ergenekon organization in Turkey began. The 48 men in dock hearing comes on trial in 700-seat courtroom, Turkish Vatan daily reports.

In the beginning, the defendants provided personal details: occupation, income, etc. The dialogue between the judge and the charged was satire-like. Questioned on the place of residence, Tuncay Özcan (one of the defendants) declared that he lives in prison, on occupation — Gurbuz Capan replied: “I am being accused of all faults of Turkey. Earlier, I was convicted on ‘Dev-Yol’ case, now – this ‘Ergenekon’. It is already 10 years that I am through trials. In brief, I am a proficient defendant.” Being questioned on his social status, Capan replied he is Ergenekon’s retiree, and immediately corrected himself, saying: “Oh, sorry, I am a state retiree.”

Turkish authorities accuse a group of retired generals of plotting to topple Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's Government. Overall, since the investigation start in 2007, over 200 people were charged on involvement in the clandestine right-wing organization Ergenekon. Officials assert that high-rank officers, policemen, journalists, scientists and educators are also liable of conspiracy.

Defendants’ supporters call the arrests political and say the Islamist-rooted government intends to finish with political opposition. Indeed, some of the accused participated in protest actions accusing AK Party government of attempt to replace legal basis of the secular society with Shariah fundamentals.