Aydoğan Vatandaş (born 1974, in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish investigative journalist, author, and media executive based in the United States. He founded Politurco.com and has authored 13 books on Turkish politics and international relations, including English works Reporting from the Bridge (2012) and Hungry for Power (2015).
Early life and education Born in Istanbul in 1974, Vatandaş graduated from prestigious Deniz Lisesi naval high school in 1988. He attended the Turkish Naval Academy from 1993 to 1995 before leaving to pursue journalism.
His academic qualifications include: BA English Literature, Fatih University (2001) MA Social Anthropology, Yeditepe University (2003–2005) MA Media Studies, The New School (2009–2011) PhD Corporate Leadership, Alvernia University (2013–2017)
Career Vatandaş began his journalistic career in 1995 as a reporter at Aksiyon magazine, a prominent investigative publication during Turkey's Susurluk scandal and Ergenekon trials era. He advanced to news editor and columnist by 2000. From 2000 to 2004, he worked at Zaman newspaper as reporter, news editor, columnist, and producer-host of the investigative TV program Kara Kutu on Samanyolu TV, focusing on political scandals and security issues. He worked at major Turkish outlets before relocating to New York in 2006 as U.S. correspondent for Today's Zaman until 2016.
In New York, Vatandaş served as U.S. correspondent for Today's Zaman (English edition) and Cihan News Agency until 2016. He covered Turkish-American relations, U.S. politics' impact on Turkey, and events like the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Following Turkey's 2016 media crackdown, he founded Politurco.com in the U.S., an independent English-Turkish news platform critical of the Turkish government. In 2015, Vatandaş wrote for The Independent about arrests in the Turkish press, highlighting the first wave of pressure against opposition journalists to the international community.
Controversies and legal status Turkish authorities have alleged that Vatandaş was affiliated with the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government designates as a terrorist organization following the 2016 coup attempt. In 2018, the Turkish government-controlled Anadolu Agency covertly filmed him in the United States and publicly targeted him. Pro-government media outlets like Sabah and Yeni Şafak had already targeted him in 2016 as an exiled journalist linked to this persona, amid broader campaigns against critics abroad.
Vatandaş denies all charges and continues publishing from the United States, where he holds legal residency.
Works Vatandaş has authored 13 books since 1996 on political investigations, including Turkey–Israel relations, ASALA counterterrorism operations, secret societies, and Turkish political purges. Several became bestsellers in Turkey. + Books by Aydoğan Vatandaş Title Publisher Year Language Subject Armagedon: Türkiye-İsrail Gizli Savaşı TİMAŞ 1996 Turkish Turkey-Israel covert conflict and U.S. Middle East policy HAARP - Kıyamet Teknolojisi Karakutu 2000 Turkish HAARP technology investigations Agharta / Elektromanyetik Savaş Başladı Karakutu 2001 Turkish Electromagnetic warfare theories Apokalipse / Kıyametin Gizli Tarihi Karakutu 2002 Turkish Apocalyptic and hidden history research Ezoterika / Gizli Cemiyetler Karakutu 2002 Turkish Secret societies and esotericism Kod Adı: Kılıçbalığı / 11 Eylül Senaryosu(co-authored with Mustafa Aydın) Karakutu 2002 Turkish 9/11 scenario analysis Kuru Kafa Ve Kemik Tarikatının Gizli Tarihi Q Matrıs 2003 Turkish Skull and Bones society history ASALA Operasyonları: Aslında Nasıl Oldu? Alfa 2005 Turkish ASALA counterterrorism operations Barnabas'ın Sırrı TİMAŞ 2007 Turkish Aramaic gospel discovery claims Monşer: Saklı Seçilmişler TİMAŞ 2009 Turkish Turkish elite families and state formation Apokrifal TİMAŞ 2012 Turkish Apocryphal texts research Reporting from the Bridge Blue Dome Press 2012 English Turkish-American relations and U.S. interviews Hungry for Power: Erdoğan's Witch Hunt Blue Dome Press 2015 English 2013–2016 Turkish purges and authoritarianism
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