Foundation led by Erdoğan's son-in-law annuls contract with municipality over funding brawl

Duvar English

A foundation led by the Turkish president's son-in-law announced May 13 that they were annulling a contract they had signed with the Istanbul Municipality (IBB) in 2017, before it was won by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar said that they were cancelling the contract for a project the two institutions collaborated on for the country's centennial.

Bayraktar's announcement came after a few weeks long brawl with CHP deputy Veli Ağbaba about the project that started when the latter claimed that Istanbul municipality had funneled 41 million liras to T3 Foundation.

Ağbaba had claimed that some 41 million Turkish Liras were transferred from IBB to T3 Foundation on multiple occasions in 2018, before the municipality was won by main opposition CHP from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2019's local elections.

"We didn't receive any cash, instead we paid ourselves," Bayraktar had said in response to Ağbaba's claims about the transfer from the municipality.

Ağbaba had responded with a tweet pointing out that he didn't claim any cash flow, but rather a transfer of resources.

"We just said T3 received 41 millions' support. Is this protocol by the IBB false then?" Ağbaba had tweeted, attaching screenshots of the official contracts between IBB and T3 Foundation.

Bayraktar had told IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu that if he didn't retrieve Ağbaba's statements, they would annul the contract for the centennial project DENEYAP.

"We parted ways with those who sided with lies and accusations in the face of injustice," Bayraktar said May 13 in an official statement announcing the annulment.