Turkey’s Disgrace: Yavaş Vows to Reveal the Gökçek Family’s Hidden Wealth

At a festival opening in Beypazarı, Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş fielded questions about the concert-procurement investigation targeting the municipality. With 14 detentions so far—5 arrests, **9 under judicial control—**Yavaş called the process politically motivated, criticized late-night home raids, and questioned why an “effective remorse” petition surfaced on television rather than with prosecutors. He also escalated his rhetoric toward former mayor Melih Gökçek and family, pledging full disclosure:

“We will expose everything about this family, which is the disgrace of Turkey.”

“Principles of Law” and Night Raids

Yavaş argued the method of detentions violates the spirit of reforms introduced in recent years:

“This government passed a law: no one should be taken from home in the middle of the night. A summons should be issued stating the subject. None of that exists anymore. Raiding homes and dragging people out is completely wrong. These people have served the public for years; if you call, they will testify.”

“Who Is Conducting the Operation?”

Citing posts made at odd hours, Yavaş claimed the investigation is being shaped in the media and questioned its authorship:

“In Ankara, Melih Gökçek—whose whole family is associated with corruption—announces the operation on Twitter in the middle of the night. So is this operation being conducted by the Ankara courthouse, the police, or the Gökçek family? Where is he getting the information?”

He added that subsequent denials did little to change the impression of outside involvement.

Technical Files, Non-Technical Accusations

Yavaş said civil inspectors had previously reviewed the files, but technical questions were now being put to lower-level bureaucrats who cannot reasonably know market specifics for machines or equipment used in large productions:

“We told them: go compare the price of the same work with the same model vehicles. If it’s overpriced, it will be clear. Whoever is responsible should be punished.”

He insisted a single person’s statement had been amplified into a sweeping loss finding:

“Someone who doesn’t even understand the subject said, based on one person’s statement, ‘this is wrong.’ The Ankara Chief Prosecutor then summoned the same experts mentioned at our press conference and produced a report claiming ₺153 million in public loss. Where is this figure coming from? No one knows.”

“Compare Tarkan and J.Lo” — Price Benchmarks Ignored

Yavaş said the defense requested concert price comparisons—from the Atatürk Orman Çiftliği Tarkan show to Jennifer Lopez—but never received a response:

“This shows the prosecutor is not collecting exculpatory evidence.”

“Effective Remorse” Filed on TV, Not at the Prosecutor’s Office

Yavaş detailed a twist involving a figure who later appeared in the case file under effective remorse:

“Civil inspectors initially sought permission to investigate nine people, six were approved; there was no mention of someone benefiting from remorse. MASAK’s report indicates, contrary to our bureaucrats, that this person received money from the companies.”

Yet, he said, the person didn’t go to the prosecutor:

“He suddenly has an epiphany and, ten days before the report is public, goes to Osman Gökçek and gives an ‘effective remorse’ petition on Beyaz TV. If he is going to submit such a petition, it must go to the prosecutor.”

Yavaş added:

“This person is free under judicial control, while bureaucrats not named in MASAK are jailed. This is not justice.”

Hint of a “Second Wave”

According to Yavaş, the Gökçek family is boasting that “a second wave is imminent,” reportedly targeting over 30 suspects, including his private office:

“If that happens, we will see who is directing the operation.”

“Six Years, No Statements Taken”

Yavaş contrasted the speed of current actions with stalled corruption complaints he says his team filed years ago:

“In my first complaint, involving ₺1.5–2 billion in public loss, forget detentions or judicial control—statements haven’t even been taken in six years. This is not justice.”

“In Civilized Countries, Police Chase Thieves”

He argued that whistleblowers and those exposing irregularities are being targeted while alleged wrongdoers act with impunity:

“In civilized countries, the police chase the thief. In Turkey, the thief ends up chasing the police.”

“There’s Not a Single Charge About Me”

Yavaş emphasized that none of the complaints—even those filed by Osman Gökçek—directly implicate him:

“They say I didn’t report in time. Whenever we hear of something, we immediately open an inspection and, if necessary, take it to the prosecutor.”

“How Did You Build a ₺600 Million Villa?”

Calling for asset transparency among politicians, Yavaş contrasted his own record with accusations about Gökçek’s wealth:

“I have been in public office since 1999, ran for Ankara four times, always under this government. They have every resource. If there were something, they would have blown it up by now. How did this person build a ₺600 million villa? How many people did you employ? How much tax did you pay? Politicians must disclose every lira.”

He vowed more disclosures:

“What we shared is just a small part. We have new evidence. We will expose everything so the public can see that crime does not pay.”

“We Won’t Let Go of Those Who Steal”

Yavaş said fresh complaints concern public funds allegedly channeled via a sports club and a TV channel:

“We are tracing where assets are hidden and who cooperates with whom. The people entrusted us with safeguarding their rights. We will not steal, we will not let anyone steal—and we will pursue those who do, to the bitter end.”