A German-based Turkish food company, Baktat, withdrew a television advertisement for instant soup in February 2005 after Bulgarian officials raised objections to its content. The spot aired on satellite broadcasts of Turkish television channels.
The commercial depicted a policeman stopping a Turkish motorist and requesting a bribe, described in colloquial terms as money for soup. The driver instead hands the officer several packets of instant soup. The scene drew on widely shared complaints among Turkish workers who drive annually between Türkiye and Europe and report shakedowns at border crossings in Bulgaria.
Although the ad never named Bulgaria or identified the policeman's nationality, the Bulgarian embassy in Ankara contacted Baktat to express its displeasure. Türkiye's broadcasting regulator subsequently warned the company that the spot could damage bilateral relations.
Baktat owner Mustafa Baklan told the Hurriyet newspaper that the company chose to pull the ad to avoid creating a diplomatic problem for Türkiye. He described the commercial as a lighthearted take on a real and recurring situation, calling it "curious that Bulgaria has taken offence."
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in February 2005, in its own words.