Turkish authorities on Monday released the wife and daughter of a U.S. consulate worker, identified as N.M.C., after the pair were detained amid a diplomatic row between the Ankara and Washington.
Authorities summoned the worker last week for questioning over his relatives' alleged links to last year's failed coup attempt, days after the arrest of another consulate employee triggered a mutual suspension of visa services.
The İstanbul Magistrate Judge’s Office released the relatives of N.M.C., on condition they do not go abroad and they check in with the police every week, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The man's wife and daughter were detained over alleged links to the network of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, accused of orchestrating the last year's failed coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The decision comes after U.S. delegation arrived in Ankara on Monday for talks aimed at resolving a spat that resulted in the two countries suspending the issuance of travel visas to the other's citizens.
Last Sunday, the U.S. mission in Turkey and the Turkish mission in Washington cut back visa services after another U.S. consulate employee, Metin Topuz, was arrested.
