Thirty-six people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the death of former Great Unity Party (BBP) Chairman Muhsin Yazicioglu in Turkiye.

Axar.az reports, citing Turkish media, that arrest warrants were issued for suspects as part of an investigation into the helicopter crash involving Yazicioglu and those accompanying him.

According to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects are accused of involvement in the “intentional and premeditated killing” of Yazicioglu and others as part of FETO activities, as well as committing various crimes to prevent the truth from being uncovered.

Searches were conducted at 45 addresses in 16 provinces, including Ankara. A total of 38 suspects were detained, with 33 initially detained and five more later.

A court ordered the arrest of 36 suspects, while judicial control measures were imposed on the other two.

Muhsin Yazicioglu, founding chairman of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), was killed on March 25, 2009, when the helicopter carrying him crashed into Kes Mountain near the Goksun district while he was traveling from Kahramanmaras to Yozgat as part of his local election campaign.

Six people, including Yazicioglu, pilot Kaya Istektepe, BBP officials and journalist Ismail Gunes, were killed in the crash.

The incident remained the subject of controversy for years due to delays in the search-and-rescue operation and the later discovery that some technical components had been removed from the helicopter.