Investigation into Arif Ahmet Denizolgun death

Turkish authorities have reopened the investigation into the suspicious 2016 death of former Transport Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun. Following the establishment of a dedicated Unsolved Crimes Bureau, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is working to address contradictions found in the original autopsy and toxicology reports.

A key development involves Rıfat Kadirov, a Turkmenistan national and stable hand who was the only person present at the Beykoz farm when the minister was found dead. Due to discrepancies between his initial statements and police reports, authorities have requested an Interpol red notice for his arrest after he left Turkey in 2023. Additionally, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) has launched an investigation into judicial members who previously closed the case.

Recent investigative actions, including a grave exhumation, have led to multiple indictments. One indictment targets a private doctor for perjury, while another targets three officials from the Forensic Medicine Institute for forgery of official documents. A third indictment involves charges of destroying, concealing, or altering evidence, specifically regarding the minister’s mobile phone. Investigators continue to examine discrepancies in HTS records and witness statements.