Ministry responds to Deniz Yavuzyılmaz's claims regarding Mustafa Tuzcu

The Ministry of Trade has responded with a written statement to the claims made by CHP Zonguldak MP Deniz Yavuzyılmaz on social media regarding Deputy Minister Mustafa Tuzcu.

Yavuzyılmaz had alleged that there was a connection between the detained Emre Tezmen, Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu, and Turkey's Ambassador to Helsinki, Ayşe Hilal Sayan Koytak. 

We are exposing the network of relationships of the fund fraud criminal organization!

We have uncovered a critical connection between Emre Tezmen and the Sayan family.

Following Emre Tezmen's appointment as the Chair of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Turkey-Finland Business Council;

Fatma Betül Sayan… pic.twitter.com/nHCXXe24h6

— Deniz Yavuzyılmaz (@yavuzyilmazd) September 28, 2026

In the Ministry's statement, it was noted that Tuzcu carries out his duties on the Board of Directors of the Central Securities Depository (MKK) representing the Ministry within the framework of relevant legislation. The statement expressed that Tuzcu “has no personal acquaintance” with the individual mentioned in the post.

"CHAIRS ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE"

Stating that it is baseless to claim there is another relationship between individuals based on the fact that they served on the same board for a period, the statement emphasized that DEİK business council chairs are elected to their positions. The Ministry declared that neither the Ministry nor Deputy Minister Tuzcu has the authority to select or appoint any person as a business council chair.

The Ministry's statement is as follows:

“The claims made by a member of parliament on social media regarding our Deputy Minister, Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, are entirely untrue, the product of a scenario and fabrication, baseless, and constitute slander.

Mr. Tuzcu carries out his duties on the Board of Directors of the Central Securities Depository (MKK) representing our Ministry within the framework of relevant legislation. He has no personal acquaintance with the individual mentioned in the post. Claiming that there is another relationship or connection between individuals based on the fact that they served on the same board for a period is a slander and an insinuation with no basis whatsoever.

On the other hand, DEİK Business Council chairs are elected to office. Our Ministry or our Deputy Minister does not have the authority to select or appoint any person as a Business Council Chair.

Therefore, attempting to establish a connection between our Deputy Minister and the mentioned individuals by distorting a public duty and a process conducted through elections consists of baseless slanders.

The title of Member of Parliament does not grant the right to smear our Deputy Minister, who selflessly performs his public duty with merit both domestically and abroad and represents our country with a sense of success and responsibility, with lies and slanders. Spreading this series of lies and fabrications, which are served with political and personal agendas, is a manifestation of an unethical mindset.

Our Ministry and our Deputy Minister reserve all legal rights in the face of these baseless claims targeting our Ministry and the personality and reputation of our Deputy Minister.”

News Source: 12punto