Minister of Trade Bolat stated that those who have incurred financial losses in their trade due to calls for boycott can file compensation claims. Ömer Bolat condemned the boycott calls to “suspend trade on April 2nd,” describing them as an attempt to cover up corruption and bribery scandals surrounding the opposition-controlled municipalities. Bolat continued to express, “Boycott calls are an attempt to sabotage the economy. They especially include elements of unfair trade and competition. We see these calls as a futile attempt of circles who consider themselves the masters and owners of the country, acting with an ‘whatever we want, we get’ mentality, but have been disappointed for 22 years, reaching the arrogance of viewing themselves as first-class superior citizens and most of our people as second-class citizens, engaged in a narrow luxury and rent-seeking glitter.” “I INVITE EVERYONE TO SHOP” Bolat drew attention to the fact that necessary actions will be taken in the justice system in terms of the Trade Law, the Law of Obligations, competition law, criminal law, and national security aspects, saying, “I have a call to our citizens, inviting them to ‘carry out their shopping and trade on April 2nd if they have shopping plans today, tomorrow, or in the following days.” Furthermore, I also want to call on the chambers representing our artisans, traders, and company owners. I call on the chambers of artisans, trade and industry, and commerce to protect the rights and interests of their members. Because this is their duty. I invite our citizens, our companies, and our artisans to undermine these efforts to disrupt the economic, anti-terrorism, and stability, foreign policy, national defense, which the government, elected by the people for 22 years, has achieved significant successes in the digital social media era,” he said. Bolat also reminded that those who suffer financial losses in their trade due to boycott calls have the right to file compensation claims under the law of obligations, stating, “Our artisans, company owners, and shareholders who have incurred financial losses in their trade due to boycott calls have the right to file compensation claims under the law of obligations, and no one should hesitate in this regard.” ASKON PRESIDENT AYDIN: TAKING THE PROCESS TO THIS LEVEL IS A MIND BLUR Anadolu Lions Businessmen’s Association (ASKON) President Orhan Aydın commented on the boycott calls initiated following the corruption investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, stating that taking the process to this level and targetting the country’s economy is not a stance, but a mind blur. In a written statement regarding the boycott calls initiated after the corruption investigation concerning Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Aydın stressed that taking the process to an economic dimension would harm the national economy. Aydın expressed that the process would come to an end within the legal framework, saying, “You conduct the legal process with your lawyers. You cannot carry out the process by throwing people into the streets and confronting them, targeting our producers who work day and night for the welfare of our country and our nation. Taking the process to this level, targeting the country’s economy is not a stance but a mind blur. Such a call, a demand can only belong to the mentality with imperialistic thoughts towards our country. We know who made these kinds of calls in the past. Even today, we know who is implementing such boycotts in our country.” Orhan Aydın pointed out the negative effects of these calls on the economy, stating, “You may think that you can consolidate a certain side or group in line with your own interests, but our people will thwart these calls that will harm the national economy with their common sense. Such calls are just arguments used to divide people, marginalize their supporters. Our people will nullify this with their common sense.”