On Sunday (September 28), the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s office issued an arrest warrant for millionaire businessman Turgay Ciner, as part of an ongoing investigation launched in early September into Can Holding, a major Turkish conglomerate.
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| Arrest warrant issued for Turkish billionaire Turgay Ciner Arrest warrant issued for Turkish billionaire Turgay Ciner |
Ciner is among Turkey’s wealthiest individuals, with a net worth estimated at around 1 billion. Over the course of a 45-plus-year business career, Ciner has been active in a variety of fields such as automobile importation, textiles, aviation, logistics, and most notably media.
The Ciner Group, headed by the billionaire businessman, owned various newspapers and TV channels such as Habertürk TV, Bloomberg HT, and Showmax. In April 2025, the group was sold to Can Holding, marking the end of Ciner’s 22-year tenure in the media sector.
Ciner was reported to be traveling abroad at the time his arrest warrant was issued. The warrant alleges Ciner engaged in money laundering connected to the sale of Ciner Group to Can Holding this past spring.
Can Holding, a major Turkish conglomerate active in fields such as media, education, tourism, and logistics, had its assets seized on September 11th and placed under the trusteeship of Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).
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Reactions focus on Ciner’s relationship with government
Members of opposition-linked media groups have been routinely faced with arrests, blackouts, and court cases in recent years.
Ciner’s Sunday arrest was notable as the businessman reportedly enjoyed a cordial relationship with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. Ciner is the owner of Kasımpaşa S.K., one of Istanbul’s major professional soccer teams located in the city’s central Beyoğlu district. The team plays its home games at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, named after the incumbent Turkish president, who grew up in the district and played soccer in his youth.
In an analysis of Ciner’s arrest released Monday, Medyascope Editor-in-Chief Ruşen Çakır commented on the case, saying that arrests have now expanded to include not only opposition figures, but also individuals friendly with the Erdoğan government:
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
“Appearing in the same photo-op with Erdoğan, shaking hands, opening a theology faculty here, a student dormitory there, or purchasing the soccer team in Erdoğan’s home neighborhood is no longer a guarantee that nothing bad will happen to you.”
In his analysis, Çakır also mentioned economic factors as having played a role in Ciner’s arrest, saying:
“There’s a very serious economic crisis domestically, too. The state’s resources are constantly dwindling, and its need for resources is increasing,” suggesting the tolerance may be dwindling for government-friendly businessmen engaged in activities such as money laundering.
“What makes this case especially notable is that neither the Can nor Ciner families had experienced any kind of falling out with Erdoğan. They’re not the types of people who would’ve ever thought about challenging him,” said Çakır.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
