30.06.2025 19:22
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Mahmut Gürcan, announced that Bilgehan Ova, who shared that "apricots are sold for 1 lira in Iğdır and 120 lira in Istanbul" and was a candidate from the CHP in the recent elections, has been fined 1 million 400 thousand lira. The fine was imposed on Ova for disseminating misleading information to the public and for spreading false information that disrupts market balance.
"In Iğdır, apricots are sold for 1 lira, while in Istanbul they are sold for 120 lira," said Bilgehan Ova, who was a CHP candidate from the Tuzluca district of Iğdır in the recent elections, and was fined 1 million 400 thousand lira for administrative penalties.
Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan announced on his social media account that the ministry teams have taken action regarding Bilgehan Ova, who made a post stating, "In Iğdır, apricots are sold for 1 lira, while in Istanbul they are sold for 120 lira," during the recent elections.
HEAVY FINE FOR THE POST
In his statement, Gürcan announced that Ova was fined 1 million 400 thousand lira for spreading misleading information to the public and for disrupting market balance.
Gürcan stated: "It has been determined that the price of apricots per kilogram in Iğdır is between 35-40 TL, while the shelf price in markets and sales points in Istanbul varies between 70 and 90 TL per kilogram."
Additionally, it has been determined that this individual was a candidate for the Tuzluca Municipality from the Republican People's Party in previous local elections and made political posts aimed at misleading the public through social media platforms.
"ADMITTED IT WAS NOT SOLD FOR 1 LIRA"
The individual in question clearly stated in the official record that apricots are not sold for 1 TL in Iğdır; he declared that the apricots mentioned in the post were not for table use, but were products supplied for juice production.
In this context, Bilgehan Ova, who was found to have spread misleading information to the public and disrupted market balance, has been fined 1 million 400 thousand TL by our Ministry of Trade.
As the Ministry of Trade, we will never tolerate any initiative that devalues the efforts of our producers, misleads our consumers, and disrupts market order; we will decisively apply all necessary sanctions against individuals and institutions engaged in such initiatives."