Turkish Retired Admiral Cihat Yaycı Alerts to Alleged Spy Operations in Ayvalık Linked to Fener Rum Patriarchate

Retired Turkish admiral Prof. Dr. Cihat Yaycı said a "very serious and comprehensive game" is being played in the coastal town of Ayvalık, where the Fener Rum Patriarchate is allegedly carrying out intensive activities despite the local Orthodox Christian population being only a handful of people.

He claimed that frequent movements between the Greek island of Lesbos and Ayvalık, an illegal appointment of a metropolitan, and the Patriarchate’s attempts to reopen churches constitute intelligence and espionage activity. Yaycı urged Turkish authorities to monitor the situation, mentioned a "New Rome" project, and said a criminal complaint had been filed against the Patriarchate’s head for alleged constitutional violations.