Refuting the allegations against him, Bolat announced that 37.8 million Turkish Lira in family savings was invested on February 26, 2024, in a legal investment instrument under Hedef Yatırım Portföy in the form of SUKUK, or lease certificates. Stating that the savings in question have been in the same investment instrument for 2 years and 8 months, that the account was not closed before or after the investigation on September 16, and that no stock trading or other investment operations were carried out through this account, Bolat claimed that the statement "he put in 400, took out 800" was a "huge lie."
Stating that neither he nor his family has any crypto assets or overseas financial investments, Bolat said that his asset declarations have been submitted to the state in full and that he has no tax or social security premium debts.
Emphasizing that they are open to investigation by all authorized institutions, primarily MASAK, the SPK, the BDDK, and the Revenue Administration, Bolat described the allegations as "black propaganda and an attempt to damage his reputation," announcing that he would use his legal rights to the fullest extent.
Minister Bolat responded to the allegations in question with a post on his social media account.
Expressing that all his asset declarations were submitted within the legal timeframes and in full, Bolat emphasized that this information is subject to the control of state institutions.
Bolat stated that he has never felt the need to hide any of his assets, sources of income, or savings to date, saying, "Our asset declaration is already in the hands of the state."
"THERE ARE OVER 1,200 INVESTMENT FUNDS IN TURKEY"
Pointing out that there are over 1,200 investment funds and numerous different capital market and money market investment instruments in Turkey, Bolat described the attempt to bring his name to the agenda through the investigations and inquiries conducted by authorized authorities regarding 7 investment institutions on September 16, 2026, as "entirely black propaganda and a new version of social and political lynching."
Bolat explained that due to his suspension of professional activities after starting his role as Minister of Trade, his family savings of 37.8 million Turkish Lira, accumulated during his 43 years of private sector, academic, and business experience prior to his ministerial role, were invested on February 26, 2024, in a legal money market financial instrument under Hedef Yatırım Portföy in the form of a SUKUK, or lease certificate account.
Stating that this data is also recorded in his asset declaration, Bolat expressed that 2 years and 8 months have passed since this investment.
"THE SUKUK ACCOUNT WAS DEFINITELY NOT CLOSED"
Bolat stated that the 37.8 million Lira in family savings remained in the same investment instrument as SUKUK, or lease certificates, for 2 years and 8 months.
Emphasizing that, contrary to the claim, the SUKUK account has definitely not been closed to date, Bolat noted that the money in question was still in the relevant account even after the investigations launched by the state on September 16, 2026.
Bolat stated that no stock trading or different investment operations were carried out on the savings in question on or before or after September 16, 2026, when the fund investigation began.
For this reason, Bolat stated that the allegations and accusations against him were "slanderous in nature," and said that the family savings, which were attempted to be discredited in the public eye as "money in a fund," were in reality a registered and legal financial investment instrument in the form of a lease certificate, referred to as SUKUK.
Bolat also underlined that the investment in question was not any stock traded on the stock exchange, and stated that the savings account was definitely not closed before or after September 16, 2026.
ANNOUNCED THE RETURN ON SUKUK INVESTMENT
Bolat also announced the return on the SUKUK investment in question as follows:
- Last 1-month return: 1.82%
- Last 3-month return: 7.75%
- Last 6-month return: 18.81%
Stating that investment instruments such as lease certificates, government bonds, gold funds, and foreign currency funds are money market instruments issued within the framework of legal and legitimate legislation and are accessible to investors, Bolat emphasized that the income from the lease certificate called SUKUK is also not risk-free or guaranteed.
Bolat stated that if the issuing institution fails to fulfill its obligations to repay the SUKUK, it is possible for the investor to experience a loss of value, including their principal.
"NO STOCK TRADING WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH THE ACCOUNT IN QUESTION"
Bolat reiterated that no stock market operations were carried out through the account where the savings in question have been held for approximately 2 years and 8 months.
Drawing attention to another issue he described as even more important, Bolat stated that Ömer Bolat has never held any management, partnership, or signatory authority in any investment or financial institution to date.
For this reason, Bolat said that associating him with the managerial or commercial activities of the institutions in question is also "an absolute lie."
"CRYPTO ASSETS OR OVERSEAS INVESTMENTS WERE NEVER IN QUESTION"
Bolat also rejected the allegations that either he or his family had crypto assets or overseas financial investments.
Stating that neither he nor his family has any crypto assets or overseas financial investment transactions, Bolat expressed that all his income, expenses, payments, savings, and financial movements are under the recording and auditing systems of the state's relevant institutions and are subject to control.
Saying "Everything is transparent," Bolat noted that he has no tax or social security premium debts to the state's relevant institutions.
"WE ARE OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT"
Bolat particularly emphasized that they are open to all kinds of investigations and audits by MASAK, the Capital Markets Board, the BDDK, the Revenue Administration, and other relevant public institutions, just as they have been until now.
In light of all these facts, Bolat stated that attempting to present family savings that have been in the same legal investment instrument in the form of SUKUK, or lease certificates, for 2 years and 8 months and have not yet been closed, within the same framework as the recently conducted fund investigations does not mean revealing the truth, and said that this is an "attempt to throw mud and damage his reputation."
Bolat described the allegations in question as a "black propaganda lie."
"TRANSPARENCY IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR 63-YEAR LIFE"
Stating that the greatest foundation of their 63-year life and 43-year business life, as well as their family and social life, has been their transparency to date, Bolat expressed that they have always adopted the principle of adhering to norms of truth, honesty, fairness, legitimacy, conscience, and morality, and being respectful to the laws.
Stating that working selflessly in the service of the people and the homeland is also one of his fundamental principles, Bolat said, "Everyone who knows and recognizes us is a witness to this."
Stating that such baseless and unfair attacks are unfortunately experienced when one is in politics and office, Bolat used the expressions, "But with God's permission, this kind of black propaganda slander never sticks to us and will never stick."
"I WILL USE MY LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE FULLEST"
Emphasizing in the final part of his statement that his legal rights are reserved, Bolat announced that he would resort to legal channels against baseless false information and slander aimed at misleading the public, damaging his reputation, and shaking confidence in the office he holds.
Bolat clearly declared that he would use all his legal rights to the fullest extent against the individuals and institutions spreading the allegations in question.
This evening, regarding the statements on the Sözcü TV broadcast that targeted me regarding the fund investigations belonging to 7 institutions conducted since September 16, and which were the subject of slander, primarily by Murat Ağırel, in a dishonorable manner, such as "he had money in the fund, withdrew it before the crisis, closed the account," and "he put 400 into the fund, withdrew it before the crisis, took 800," I would like to express the following points in order to inform the public correctly and to clarify the entirely baseless, false, and incorrect allegations:
— Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat (@omerbolatTR) October 7, 2026
News Source: 12punto
