03.09.2026 12:10
Melih Gökçek, against whom an investigation has been initiated on the claim that 'unregistered money was transferred to companies abroad,' will testify on Friday as a suspect. Gökçek, who denies the claim of transferring money abroad, explained his children obtaining residence permits from Germany with his trade plans, and when asked, 'Has the AK Party abandoned the Gökçeks?' he replied, 'Justice is justice for everyone. Look, am I crying?'
Former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek was summoned to testify in the investigation conducted over alleged “unregistered money”. Gökçek, summoned to testify as a suspect, broke his silence before giving his statement on Friday. Gökçek made striking statements to Sözcü columnist İsmail Saymaz regarding the allegations of transferring money abroad and obtaining a residence permit from Germany.
ALLEGATIONS OF TRANSFERRING MONEY ABROAD
Melih Gökçek, stating he does not yet know what he is accused of within the scope of the investigation, said, “I will learn when I go. Whatever they ask, I will answer; I have no information,” indicating he will learn about the process at the prosecutor's office. When İsmail Saymaz reminded him of the allegations that money was transferred abroad through his son and daughter-in-law, Gökçek categorically denied these accusations. Gökçek stated, “There is no such thing. I have not sent a single lira abroad in my entire life. I have not gone abroad at all after becoming the mayor. Forget Germany, I haven't even left my country.” He also conveyed that the prosecutor's office had not previously asked him any questions in this regard, saying, “They did not ask me anything like that.”
“NO INVITATION FOR MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, I WILL FILE A LAWSUIT”
Gökçek, noting his son and daughter-in-law are in Turkey, emphasized that the investigation currently only covers himself. Saying there is no judicial invitation regarding his family, Gökçek announced he would initiate legal proceedings against the claimants, stating, “My son and daughter-in-law are here. There is no invitation for them. There is only an invitation for me, and I will be there on Friday. Meanwhile, I will file lawsuits against Murat Ağırel and Nadir Türkaslan.”
“THE CHILDREN ARE PLANNING TO DO BUSINESS IN GERMANY”
When Saymaz asked about the reason for the money sent to Germany and the citizenship allegations, Gökçek stated the issue was about a residence permit, not citizenship. Gökçek said, “Sinan Burhan had explained this as citizenship. Sinan misunderstood the issue; that was a residence permit. But I don't know the details; I will ask the children.” To the question of whether his family obtaining a residence permit from Germany was a contradiction while he calls everyone a “German servant,” he pointed to commercial reasons and replied, “The children are planning to do business in Germany. That's all there is to it. They took this 3.8 million, couldn't pay it all at once, and paid it in installments.” Regarding the claim that the money in question was obtained from properties sold in Ankara, he stated, “I don't know how many properties were sold. They didn't tell me; I have no information.”
“JUSTICE IS JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE”
One of the most striking moments of the interview was Saymaz's question, “Did the AK Party perhaps write off the Gökçeks?” Giving the message that he trusts the judiciary independently of his party during the investigation process, Gökçek responded to this question with, “Justice is justice for everyone. Justice for the Gökçeks, justice for İsmail Saymaz too. Look, am I crying?” expressing that he faces the process with composure.