The Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority (KIB-TEK) at the start of every month, issues a reminder that debtors owing over 675 TL will have their electricity cut off, Kibris Postasi reports. In addition, a reconnection fee of 200 TL will be charged.
Critics of this situation, who left comments when this time was published, argue that the electricity supply to hotels, Ercan Airport, and wealthy businessmen with debts of millions of Turkish Lira, also should be cut off. Some also questioned whether this warning applies to Ercan Airport.
Citizens point out that Emrullah Turanlı, owner of Taş-Yapı and director of T&T company owes KIB-TEK 59 million Turkish Lira and ask when Ercan Airport’s electricity will be cut off.
While a citizen’s electricity is cut off for 675 TL, Turanlı, who has a debt of 56 million, is offered repayments in “favourable instalments“. The government’s latest “favour” to Turanlı was to divide his million-dollar electricity debt into 12 instalments with the removal of interest.
Politicians, MPs, organisations, and citizens have expressed many reactions to the opportunities provided to Turanlı and his failure to pay his debts “in any way“.
Most recently, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Women’s Organisation held a protest at Ercan Airport in April, regarding the forgiveness of Turanlı’s tax debts and protesting about his failure to pay the airport’s electricity bill.