The Ardahan Newspaper | Since 1995 |
The 25th National Göle Culture and Cheese Festival, held on July 24–26 in Göle, Ardahan’s largest district, drew massive crowds alongside high-stakes political tension behind the scenes. Thousands of visitors arrived via 17 chartered buses from Istanbul and Ankara to enjoy traditional horse races, local music, and regional cheese tastings.
However, the event was overshadowed by a dispute between local officials and founding civil society groups. The leadership of the Istanbul and Ankara Göle Associations—who hold the festival's patent and have contributed for 25 consecutive years—were refused speaking time by the organization committee. In protest, association and federation presidents rejected Mayor Gökhan Budak's invitation for a collective stage photo, leaving the main stage empty for nearly three hours. Reports suggest the blackout stemmed from a violent altercation two days prior between a federation head and the festival's graphic designer.
