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Deaths of Turkish local government officials

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-18 21:48 UTC → 2026-10-20 09:11 UTC · added removed

In late September 2026, Muammer Balcı, the Deputy Governor of Zonguldak, died of a heart attack at age 57 while on leave in Istanbul. Balcı had recently submitted his retirement petition after serving in various administrative roles across Turkey. In mid-October 2026, Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin died at age 43 following a multi-vehicle traffic accident on the Anadolu Highway. Gültekin was traveling to Ankara for the Turkish Municipalities Union elections at the time of the collision. The accident, which occurred in the Düzce section and involved three vehicles, left five people injured. Although Gültekin received emergency medical intervention from a passing doctor at the scene, he later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the funeral ceremony at the Büyük Çamlıca Mosque to offer condolences. Other political figures, including Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, also attended the service. Following the death, accident, Muharrem Kiremitçi, the Istanbul Governor's Office announced that official driver for Gültekin, was arrested and faces charges of ‘causing death by negligence’. On October 18, 2026, the Üsküdar Municipal Council will convene on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to elect a successor. Political parties, including concluded the CHP leadership transition by electing Muhammed Emin Sarıoğlu as the new Deputy Mayor. Representing the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), Sarıoğlu ran as the sole candidate after the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Yeni Parti, have indicated they will participate in the selection process with separate candidates. New Party (Yeni Parti) decided not to field candidates for this specific election. This election follows a period of administrative transition instability in Üsküdar after the district, including the previous mayor was removed from office removal and arrested in connection with arrest of Mayor Sinem Dedetaş due to a corruption investigation. Following the accident, Muharrem Kiremitçi, the official driver for Gültekin who had served the Üsküdar Municipality for approximately eight years, was arrested. Kiremitçi faces charges of ‘causing death by negligence’ and has been transferred to Çilimli Prison as the judicial investigation continues.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-20 09:11 UTC Deaths of Turkish local government officials
  2. 2026-10-18 21:48 UTC Deaths of Turkish local government officials
  3. 2026-10-18 13:22 UTC Deaths of Turkish local government officials
  4. 2026-10-17 10:55 UTC Deaths of Turkish local government officials
  5. 2026-10-16 19:13 UTC Deaths of Turkish local government officials

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