The head of Türkiye's Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF), Ahmet Erturk, said the media and business assets recently taken from Dinc Bilgin and Turgay Ciner should be ready for sale within four to six months, according to reporting by the daily Hurriyet.
Erturk said the fund would draw on prior experience to move quickly and cleanly through the sales process, timing the transaction to secure the best possible return. He noted that the fund's attention is on the economic environment surrounding the upcoming general elections, not the political calendar.
The seizure of 63 companies belonging to the two men on 1 April followed an unexpected disclosure by Bilgin, who visited Erturk's office and produced documents showing he had signed confidential agreements with Ciner in 2002. TMSF verified the materials, then summoned Merkez Group management, who initially denied any such deals before acknowledging that protocols had been signed, while insisting those agreements were no longer in force.
Erturk also told Hurriyet that after deciding to act he briefed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who instructed him "to do what was necessary within the framework of the law."
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in April 2007, in its own words.