06.05.2026 20:50
A striking allegation emerged during the hearing of the corruption investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB). Suspended IBB Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu claimed that Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, who is said to be a fugitive, sent 41 million 666 thousand lira to the company managing Murat Kurum's election campaign. Following the allegations, Murat Kurum issued a harsh statement. Kurum described the money transfer claim as slander and argued that no support was given to his campaigns.
A new controversy has erupted between the dismissed Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, during the hearing of the corruption investigation against IBB.
İmamoğlu claimed that Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, reported to be a fugitive, sent 41 million 666 thousand lira to the company managing Murat Kurum's election campaign. Kurum, however, rejected these allegations as "slander."
HARSH RESPONSE FROM KURUM
Following the allegations, Murat Kurum stated that the individual in question did not provide any financial support to his election campaigns. Kurum said, "The claims that the fugitive Murat Gülibrahimoğlu provided financial support to our election campaign are baseless and an outright slander."
In his statement, Kurum asserted that his campaign and himself were being targeted and said, "Targeting our campaign and myself with such slanders is, to say the least, unethical."
Referring to the IBB investigation, Kurum stated, "Those whose corruption has been exposed, whose money towers have collapsed, are trying to change the agenda."
"YOU WILL NOT COVER IT UP"
In a statement on social media, Minister Kurum said, "The allegations that the fugitive Murat Gülibrahimoğlu provided financial support to our election campaign, which have come up in the major corruption case at IBB, are baseless and an outright slander.
That individual has never provided any support to our election campaign.
Targeting our campaign and myself with such slanders is, to say the least, unethical.
Those whose corruption has been exposed, whose money towers have collapsed, and who have recorded tapes of their immoral relationships, their efforts to change the agenda are futile.
No matter what slander you make, you will not be able to cover up the corruption you have committed."