Renowned Turkish gourmet faces investigation over opposition-run Istanbul Municipality’s public restaurant

Duvar English

Turkey’s Trade Ministry has requested renowned gourmet and sociologist Vedat Milor to submit a written explanation of one of his YouTube videos, the ministry’s press counselor Fatih Uysan said in a social media statement on Feb. 7.

The investigation has been initiated by a complaint made to the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER), and it involves Milor’s YouTube video titled “A four-course meal for 40 liras: Is this price real?” 

In the video, Milor visits one of the public restaurants of the opposition-run Istanbul Municipality, known as “city restaurant.”

69-year-old Milor is accused of “implicit advertising” and can potentially get a fine.

Since 2022, the municipality has opened 17 public restaurants in the megacity, providing four-course meals for 40 liras ($1.1) to citizens during economic turmoil.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu criticized the move, and said, “First they mocked, then they belittled, and now they are picking on those who visit (the restaurants). It is a pity. These restaurants are the palaces of the poor, the low-income, the retired. More will open.”

“I hope they will give up this unintelligent attitude and behavior, give up these attacks. The more they do this, the more they harm themselves. That does not concern me at all, but they leave a great damage to the life, peace and hopes for the future of our nation. Because after all, they are the government of today. They discredit the economy”, İmamoğlu also told the press.

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