President Erdoğan’s statements are as follows:

“WE SIGNED 13 DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS”

Mr. President, my dear brother, esteemed Ministers, esteemed representatives of our business world; I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings, respect and affection.

I am very pleased to meet with you, esteemed representatives of our business world, in our ancestral homeland, Kazakhstan, on the occasion of the sixth meeting of our High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. In your presence, I would like to thank my dear brother, Mr. Tokayev, for his close attention to the issues of our business people.

At the beginning of my words, I would like to congratulate the brotherly Kazakh people with my sincerest wishes on the occasion of the “Homeland Defenders Day and Victory Day”, which was celebrated recently. We see that the reform program carried out under the leadership of Mr. Tokayev is the driving force of Kazakhstan’s rise. At this point, I hope that the new constitution adopted in the referendum held on March 15 will be beneficial for the brotherly Kazakh people.

I would like to emphasize once again that we will always be the closest supporter of Kazakhstan as it celebrates its 35th anniversary of independence. In our morning meetings, we discussed many issues on our common agenda; We signed 13 different documents that will strengthen our bilateral cooperation. I believe that the business forum will contribute to the development of economic and commercial relations between our countries.

Dear participants, we are happy that our economic relations with Kazakhstan are progressing day by day with your valuable contributions. We follow with great satisfaction the progress Kazakhstan has made in the field of economy under the strong leadership of Mr. Tokayev. In Kazakhstan, whose gross domestic product showed a striking growth of 6.5 percent in 2025, per capita national income approached 15 thousand dollars.

We now have Kazakhstan, which has the largest economy in Central Asia, with a total foreign trade volume of 145 billion dollars. With the impact of this growth, Kazakhstan has become our most traded partner in the Turkish world in 2025. Our nearly 5,500 companies; With its investments reaching 6 billion dollars from construction to finance, from tourism to informatics, it supports not only prosperity but also our brotherhood.

Our contractors have undertaken more than 500 projects worth up to $30 billion across the country. They became a source of pride for our country with the works they successfully completed and presented to the service of the Kazakh people.

“OUR TRADE VOLUME APPROACHED 10 BILLION DOLLARS”

On the other hand, we are very pleased that Kazakhstan’s investments in our country are increasing day by day. More than 750 Kazakh companies continue their activities in Türkiye with investments approaching 2 billion dollars. Thanks to our strong partnership based on mutual trust, our trade volume approached 10 billion dollars by the end of last year. Of course, we are not satisfied with these; We continue our efforts with determination to reach our target of 15 billion dollars in a sustainable and balanced way. Frankly, I am sure that we can do much more and reach much more advanced levels. In this regard, the comprehensive action plan we adopted at the Joint Economic Commission meeting held in Astana last month will bring a new breath to our trade and investment relations. I think that the agreement on mutual protection and promotion of investments that we signed today on the occasion of our High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting will further encourage mutual investments.

In our meetings today, we also discussed issues that will positively affect our trade, such as switching to an electronic permit system with Kazakhstan, increasing transit document quotas, and liberalizing bilateral and transit transportation. I hope that we will make progress on these issues in the coming period.

Dear friends; We are facing multidimensional challenges such as regional conflicts, energy supply security, artificial intelligence transformation and breaks in supply chains. As a result of this dynamic, developing cooperation between countries has become even more important. We follow with appreciation Kazakhstan’s breakthroughs in the field of artificial intelligence with the visionary approach of President Mr. Tokayev. Tomorrow, we will hold the unofficial summit of the Turkic World Organization in Turkestan, the hometown of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi. I would like to express that we found it very accurate and meaningful that the main theme of the summit was determined as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

Regarding energy; Today, we discussed a wide range of cooperation opportunities with my dear brother, from the exploitation of hydrocarbon fields to transportation and the discovery of critical minerals. As Türkiye, we are a country that has ensured energy supply security by ensuring resource diversity years ago.

We wish to deliver more oil from Kazakhstan to world markets through our country. We have a very good past cooperation with Kazakhstan in the field of defense industry, where we have made significant progress. Today, my dear brother and I confirmed our will to further advance our cooperation in this field with new projects, including joint production.

We are working to revitalize the Middle Corridor passing through the Caspian by integrating our railway connections, port infrastructure and digital customs systems. While bringing our countries closer to each other, it remains our goal to bring the Eurasian region to a more competitive position in the global economy.

Dear business people, I would like to remind you here of the following quote from the Divan-ı Hikmet of His Holiness Piri Turkestan Hodja Ahmet Yesevi: ‘He who sets out on the path will attain his end goal.’ As leaders, we will continue to do whatever is necessary to get rid of whatever obstacles hinder you or hinder you on this path. As the Turkish-Kazakh business world, you will not give up on walking patiently on your path. You will invest, produce, export, provide employment, and contribute to the economies of both countries. We will stand hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder; We will continue this struggle together, tirelessly and determinedly.

Our expectation from you is to lead projects that are based not only on economic but also on human gains. Investment in people is the greatest, most lasting investment. I would like to express here that we expect you to increase your support to the Turkish-Kazakh Hoca Ahmet Yesevi University, which is one of the symbols of our common future and has given 100 thousand graduates since its establishment.

As I end my words with these thoughts, I would like to congratulate our Kazakh brothers on the upcoming Eid al-Adha, in the person of my dear brother Tokayev. I pray to God that the holiday brings peace to the Kazakh people, the Turkish-Islamic world and all humanity. I offer my heartfelt greetings and affection to my Kazakh brothers and sisters who have trusted Turkish companies for decades, and I wish our valuable business people great success in their work. May God open our path and fortune. Hope to see you again, stay healthy.

An indictment was prepared against Hakan Bahçetepe, who was suspended from his duty as Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor, and 8 suspects after his arrest within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).

Aziz Lal, Aziz İhsan Aktaş, Baki Aydöner, Erdal Celal Aksoy, Gözde Bahçetepe, Gürkan Dölekli, Hakan Bahçetepe, Seza Büyükçulha and Özer Ayık were listed as ‘Suspect’. Additionally, Aziz İhsan Aktaş’s statement, taken within the scope of effective remorse provisions, was included.

HTS records were included in the indictment. It was stated that during the examination, it was determined that Seza Büyükçulha had communication records in the same place as Gürkan Dölekli, Özer Ayık and Baki Aydöner and other suspects in the indictment.

In the opinion of Istanbul Provincial Police Department’s Financial Crimes Fighting Branch Directorate; It was stated that the suspect Seza Büyükçulha was Ekrem İmamoğlu’s childhood friend, the suspect Baki Aydöner was a member of the CHP Assembly and was close to İmamoğlu, and both suspects were tried as defendants in the ‘corruption case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’.

THE CLAIM THAT “300 THOUSAND DOLLARS WAS GIVEN TO BAHÇETEPE FOR EXCAVATION PERMIT”

In Aziz İhsan Aktaş’s statement, we requested permission from Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality regarding the excavation permit to install a power line at the station before the 2024 local elections. When CHP won the municipality after the local elections, they extended the process to respond to our request. When Baki Aydöner and Seza Büyükçulha met with Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe and said that the mayor would give permission if 300 thousand dollars was given, Gürkan Dölekli stated that 300 thousand dollars was given to Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe through Business Manager Özer Ayık.

Within the scope of the investigation carried out under the coordination of the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Terrorism Financing and Laundering Crimes Investigation Bureau, a large-scale operation was carried out against the organized crime structure that has been followed for a long time by the teams of the Adana Provincial Police Department’s Cyber ​​Crimes Branch Directorate.

ILLEGAL BETTING, FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING

In the file prepared in line with MASAK reports, technical and physical tracking studies, bank movements, HTS records, digital material reviews and crypto asset analyses, it was determined that the suspects laundered the criminal proceeds obtained from fraudulent activities carried out through illegal betting and phishing methods through different financial systems.

BANKING AND CRYPTO NETWORK WERE DEVELOPED IN THE OPERATION

According to the investigation file, it was determined that the criminal organization established special software infrastructures and panel systems, provided financial infrastructure to illegal betting sites, and carried out transfer organizations worth millions of liras through electronic money institutions and virtual POS networks. It was also noted that the organization circulates criminal proceeds within multi-layered financial systems, actively uses crypto asset systems, and carries out cash conversion and layering transactions through jewelers and foreign exchange offices.

IT WAS DETECTED THAT 100 BILLION LIRAS AND 2 BILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS WERE LAUNDERED

During financial investigations, it was determined that suspicious money movements of approximately 100 billion Turkish Liras and 2 billion US Dollars were laundered. It was evaluated that the structure was a professional financial crime organization operating on a national and international scale.

DETENTION DECISION FOR BANK MANAGERS AND COPS

Within the scope of the investigation, strong evidence was obtained that middle and senior managers working in some private banks took an active role in the transfer and layering transactions of proceeds obtained from crime within the banking system. In addition, it was determined that some police personnel made inquiries regarding the arrest, detention and search warrants given against suspects in exchange for bribes and leaked information about the operation processes.

SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS WERE HELD IN 21 PROVINCES

In this context, simultaneous operations were organized at 228 different addresses in 21 provinces. While operations were initiated to capture 198 suspects, detention orders were issued for 3 bank managers, 8 police personnel and 4 lawyers.

RASİM OZAN KÜTAHYALI IS AMONG THE THOSE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Many people were detained during the operation. It was learned that journalist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı was among those detained and that he was detained at his home in Istanbul.

BILLIONS OF ASSETS WERE SEIZED

Within the scope of the investigation, court order and seizure measures were taken against 3 electronic money and payment institutions, 3 jewelers and 1 foreign exchange office operating in Adana. 221 immovable properties, 120 vehicles and 3 boats, which were considered to belong to suspicious persons and companies, were also seized. In addition, an access ban decision was imposed on a total of 8,500 illegal betting and gambling websites that were considered to be used to circulate criminal proceeds.

RASİM OZAN KÜTAHYALI’S FINANCIAL MOVEMENTS WERE DETECTED

Some of the financial movements of Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, one of the detained persons, were reflected in the report regarding the investigation carried out by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). According to the report, it was determined that a total of 16 million 141 thousand 893 TL was inflowed into Kütahyalı’s bank account between 2022 and 2024, and 1 million 472 thousand 582 TL was outflowed from the account in the same period. In addition, in the examinations carried out through electronic money institutions; It was evaluated that a total of 35 million 201 thousand 344 TL was entered into Kütahyalı’s account in the same period from six different payment institutions: Sipay, Fzpay, Paladyum, Elekse, Birleşim Payment and Faturamatik.

PROMINENT SUSPECTS IN THE OPERATION

The prominent names in the operation based in Adana are as follows:

1.Selahattin Akın UZUN (Organization Leader)

2.⁠ ⁠Asmin Aisha PALA (Paladium-Pep Para-General Manager)

3. Zekeriya Başar ÖZBİLEN (Paladyum-Pep Para- Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors)

4.⁠ ⁠Mehmet SADİOĞLU (Paladyum-Pep Para-Board Member)

5.⁠ ⁠Tolgahan KAPANCI (Paladyum-Pep Para-Compliance and Risk Manager)

6.⁠Deniz USULOĞLU (Paladyum-PPE Money-Finance Deputy General Manager)

7. ⁠Özlem OKTAREŞKARA SEFER (Paladyum Sales and Operations Deputy General Manager)

8.⁠ ⁠Sadık GENÇ (Former Owner of CMT-BSM Payment Institution)

9.⁠ ⁠Buğra SÖNMEZ (Former Visa Manager)

10.⁠ ⁠Aykut MASTERS (No Current Registration)

11.⁠ ⁠Sadullah AYDIN ​​(No Current Records)

12.⁠ ⁠Ferhat ALTUNKAYNAK (CRYPDOOME CRYPTO- Internal Auditor)

13.⁠ ⁠Soner GÜLECİ (Bank Employee)

14.⁠ ⁠Emrullah GÜVEN (Jewellery)

15.⁠ ⁠Hayrullah GÜVEN (Jewellers)

16.⁠ ⁠Tahir BAKIRCI(BEREKET TBEMLAK BİLİŞİM TEKNOLOJİLERİ TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ. OWNER)

17.⁠ ⁠Ertuğrul KOÇAK (TÜRKİYE İş Bankası – BANK MANAGER)

18.⁠ ⁠Engin YALÇIN (TÜRKİYE İş Bankası)

19. ⁠İbrahim SIRMA (Lecturer)

20.⁠ ⁠Rasim Ozan KÜTAHYALI(Author-Journalist)

21.⁠ ⁠Kemal Oğuz PALA(50% SHARE PARTNER OF PALLADAUM PAYMENT CORPORATION)

22. Çayan ZENGİN (Lawyer Adana Bar Association)

23. Taylan Perver ALONE (Lawyer Adana Bar Association)

24. GÜNAY UZUN (Lawyer Adana Bar Association) Inactive – Fugitive

25. Mehmet Emin UZUN (Lawyer Adana Bar Association) Inactive – Fugitive

26.⁠ ⁠Yusuf OĞUZ (EXPORT POLICE OFFICER)

27. ⁠Fatih SEVGİLİ (POLICE OFFICER-ADANA SUPPORT SERVICE DEPARTMENT)

28.⁠ ⁠Hamdi BALOĞLU (EXPORT POLICE OFFICER)

29.⁠ ⁠Mustafa Ali YILDIRIM(COMMISSIONER- DENİZLİ PAMUKKALE SEVİNDİK PMA.)

30.⁠ ⁠Emin ELMAS(POLICE OFFICER-MANİSA-YUNUS EMRE ORGANIZED INDUSTRIAL ZONE PMA.)

31.⁠Murat KALA (POLICE OFFICER-ADANA SEYHAN PATROL TEAMS A.)

32. ⁠ÖZHAN KARGAOĞLU (RETIRED POLICE OFFICER)

33.⁠ ⁠TAMER AKKUŞ (POLICE OFFICER- ADANA TEM Branch)

“WE WILL NEVER COMPROMISE”

Making a statement about the operation, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek said, “The determined stance of our Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Treasury and Finance, shoulder to shoulder and in great coordination, is the clearest indication that we will never compromise against financial criminal organizations and illegal betting networks. I would like to thank our Adana Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and Adana Provincial Police Department for this operation carried out with patience and great care. We will continue our fight against all kinds of criminal structures targeting the sweat and future of our citizens with the same unshakable will.”

“WE ALSO COMPREHENSIVELY EVALUATED REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES”

Reminding that they will attend the Unofficial Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (TDT) to be held tomorrow in Turkestan, the spiritual capital of the Turkish world, Erdogan continued as follows:

“I would like to state that we are grateful for the valuable contributions of Kazakhstan to the integration of the Turkish World from the very beginning. We are pleased that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be represented as an observer at our summit tomorrow. Today, we also comprehensively evaluated regional and international issues with Mr. President. I would like to thank my dear brother, President Mr. Tokayev and his delegation, once again, for the exceptional hospitality they have shown. With these thoughts, I hope our Council meeting will be beneficial. Kazakh “I send my wishes for health, well-being and prosperity to our brothers and sisters.”

President Erdoğan concluded his speech with the words “köp mercy”, which means “much mercy” in Kazakh.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was presented with the “Khoja Ahmet Yesevi Order” by Kazakhstan President Kasım Cömert Tokayev. Erdoğan and Tokayev had a private meeting at the Independence Palace and attended the Sixth Meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

After the meeting, Tokayev bestowed the “Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Order” on Erdoğan. In his speech at the ceremony, Erdoğan stated that he was very pleased that the distinguished medal created in the name of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi was presented to him for the first time and said:

“I see and accept this engagement as a high favor to the Republic of Turkey and our nation. On this occasion, I would like to thank you, my dear brother, for the leadership you have shown in reaching the current level of brotherhood between our countries. May God perpetuate our brotherhood and love.”

On the other hand, the two leaders opened the “Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Primary School”, which was built by Kazakhstan in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep after the February 6 earthquakes.

ERDOĞAN WAS THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT GRANTED NAME

“Khoja Ahmet Yesevi Order” was announced by Kazakhstan President Tokayev in a statement made on April 10, 2026.

At today’s ceremony, Erdoğan became the first person to be presented with the “Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Order”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues his contacts in Kazakhstan, where he came after a two-year break. President Erdoğan was welcomed with an official ceremony by the President of Kazakhstan Kasım Cömert Tokayev at the Independence Palace in the capital Astana, where he came to attend the Unofficial Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (TDT). At the ceremony, after President Erdoğan greeted the welcoming guard, the national anthems of the two countries were read. President Erdoğan and Kazakhstan President Tokayev had a bilateral meeting after the official ceremony.

SIXTH MEETING OF THE HIGH-LEVEL STRATEGIC COOPERATION COUNCIL

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was welcomed by Kazakhstan President Kasım Cömert Tokayev with an official ceremony at the Independence Palace. After his one-on-one meeting with Tokayev, Erdoğan chaired the Sixth Meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

President Erdoğan’s statements are as follows:

I congratulate the brotherly Kazakh people on the occasion of Defenders of the Homeland Day and Victory Day, which you have recently observed. I sincerely hope that the new constitution, which received great support from the public in the referendum on March 15, will bring good things to Kazakhstan.

EMPHASIS ON THE TURKISH WORLD CENTURY

Türkiye-Kazakhstan relations continue to progress in all areas within the framework of an enhanced strategic partnership. During our meeting with my dear brother, we had a productive exchange of views on many issues, from trade to energy, from defense industry cooperation to transportation and global issues. We agree with my dear brother on providing opportunities that will strengthen our organization institutionally.

I hope we will make the next period the century of the Turkish World.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran, AK Party Deputy Chairman Kürşat Zorlu and Binali Yıldırım also took part in the meeting.

THE POWER OF THE UNIVERSITY AND ACADEMY IS STILL LIMITED

Evaluating the approach of universities and media organizations in the West to the Palestine issue, Norton said that students and academics have a more open attitude in academic circles, but they do not have enough power over decision-making structures.

Norton, however, pointed out that the recent increase in unionization movements, especially among graduate students, could change the balance of power in the academy, and emphasized that this process could “significantly transform the academic ecosystem.”

“DECOLONIZED THOUGHT IS NOT NOURISHED FROM A SINGLE CULTURAL SOURCE”

When asked what the decolonized idea would be like in practice, Norton replied that “it has not yet fully emerged, but some of its features can already be seen.”

Emphasizing that the decolonization of thought should not be stuck on a single cultural basis, on the contrary, it should have a pluralistic structure, Norton said, “We can also see the features that this structure may have. It will not only be fed by a single cultural source, but will be fed by more than one cultural source. People who talk about politics will benefit from these different sources when expressing their views and ideas in public.” he said. Emphasizing that social media accelerates the circulation of information, but that this area is under the control of large companies and oligarchs in the West, Norton said, “One of the problems in the West is that social media is very strongly controlled by companies and oligarchs. This needs to be broken.” he said. Pointing out that Istanbul can become one of the global information production centers, Norton stated that the Palestinian press provides a remarkable example in this regard. “The Palestinian press stands out for two things: one is their extraordinary courage, and the other is that they actually produce the news,” Norton said. made his assessment.

Stating that centers such as Brazil and Argentina, as well as Istanbul, can be effective in the production of news and ideas on a global scale, Norton said that Türkiye’s historical and cultural heritage provides a significant advantage in this respect.

Making a statement at the weekly press briefing held at the Ministry, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press and Public Relations Advisor of the Ministry of National Defense, stated that the Turkish Armed Forces continue their fight against threats to the security of the country within and beyond the border. Referring to the activities regarding border security, Aktürk said, “Within the scope of search-scanning and border security activities carried out throughout the week in order to establish permanent security, caves, bunkers and shelters, mines and hand-made explosive detection and destruction activities were carried out effectively in the operation areas.”
Giving information about the data of the last week at the borders, Aktürk said, “258 people, including 1 member of a terrorist organization, were caught at our borders, and the number of people caught trying to cross our borders illegally from January 1 to today is 2 thousand 944. With 1,344 people blocked, the number of people blocked this year has reached 29 thousand 194.”

SHIPS WILL BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON MAY 19
“We are already celebrating our 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day,” said Aktürk, adding that within the scope of the celebrations, the Naval Forces Command will visit 22 ports with 30 ships and the ships will be opened to the public. Aktürk also said that demonstration flights will be performed by Turkish Stars in Çorum on May 16, and by SOLOTÜRK and Turkish Stars in Samsun on May 19.
In the statement made by the Ministry of National Defense, it was stated that the studies on the Maritime Jurisdiction Areas Law are a framework regulation that will determine the responsibilities in the maritime jurisdictions and eliminate the deficiencies in the domestic law legislation, and that the final studies on the text of the law are continuing. The statement said, “The study of the Maritime Jurisdiction Areas Law is a framework law that will determine the responsibilities in our maritime jurisdictions and eliminate the deficiencies in our domestic legal legislation.”
In the statement, which stated that the Ministry contributed to the said studies at different levels, it was said: “Our Ministry has participated in the said law studies at the military, technical, academic and legal levels, and our contributions have been conveyed to the relevant institutions. The final studies on the text of the law in question are being carried out by the relevant institutions of our country. Our Turkish Armed Forces will continue to protect the rights and interests of our country in the maritime jurisdiction areas with determination, as always.”