A trustee has been appointed to run Turkey’s GAİN Media, as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal betting networks across the country.
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| Trustee appointed to Turkey’s GAİN Media Trustee appointed to Turkey’s GAİN Media The trustee takeover of GAİN follows several notable developments in the Turkish media world of late. Last week, Habertürk Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy, known for his close links to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, was arrested on suspicions of drug use and ‘running a criminal organization’. The move came as a surprise given Ersoy’s close ties to the AKP. In opposition-controlled media circles, investigations and trustee appointments have been more common. In late October, a Turkish court appointed a trustee to run the opposition-leaning TELE1 television station, following accusations of ‘espionage’. Following the news, TELE1 employees resigned en masse. The station had been previously hit with a 5-day broadcast ban in August. Opposition-linked channels Halk TV and Sözcü TV had also been subject to blackouts in July imposed by Turkey’s TV and radio watchdog (RTÜK). |
GAİN Media, founded in 2020, is primarily known for producing short 5-15 minute videos on pop culture-related topics.
Three GAİN employees were arrested by authorities in a raid early Tuesday (December 16). GAİN is accused of ‘aggravated fraud’ and ‘laundering money of assets derived from crime’, according to a statement released by Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor.
GAİN’s assets have been temporarily transferred to the trusteeship of Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). TMSF has been appointed as trustee to a total of seven companies targeted in Tuesday’s operation.
Move follows major shake-ups in the Turkish media
The trustee takeover of GAİN follows several notable developments in the Turkish media world of late.
Last week, Habertürk Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy, known for his close links to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, was arrested on suspicions of drug use and ‘running a criminal organization’. The move came as a surprise given Ersoy’s close ties to the AKP.
In opposition-controlled media circles, investigations and trustee appointments have been more common.
In late October, a Turkish court appointed a trustee to run the opposition-leaning TELE1 television station, following accusations of ‘espionage’. Following the news, TELE1 employees resigned en masse. The station had been previously hit with a 5-day broadcast ban in August.
Opposition-linked channels Halk TV and Sözcü TV had also been subject to blackouts in July imposed by Turkey’s TV and radio watchdog (RTÜK).
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
