How was the crime discovered?
According to Turkey’s Sabah newspaper, information about the incident became public on the evening of January 24. A man identified as O.Ch., who was collecting recyclable materials in the Duatepe neighborhood, found a suspicious package inside a trash container on Koyulubag Street. He immediately reported the discovery to the police.
What did investigators find at the scene?
Forensic teams arriving at the scene discovered the body of a woman inside the container. During a subsequent search of nearby streets, investigators found additional remains placed inside a suitcase. The findings prompted a full-scale criminal investigation.
Who was the victim?
Turkish media reported that the victim was identified through fingerprint analysis. She was confirmed to be 37-year-old Uzbek national Durdona Hakimova, who worked at a hunting and sports equipment store. The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul later officially confirmed her identity.
The consulate also stated that it is in contact with the victim’s family and is providing all necessary consular and legal assistance.
What is known about the suspects?
According to diplomatic sources, two Uzbek citizens were detained while attempting to leave Turkey for Georgia. Turkey’s Hürriyet newspaper reported that the crime took place in an apartment in Istanbul’s Umraniye district.
The main suspect, identified as D.T., admitted to having a close relationship with the victim. They reportedly met about a year ago. The suspect traveled to Turkey three months earlier and rented the apartment where the incident occurred around ten days before the crime.
How did investigators reconstruct the events?
Investigators believe that a conflict arose between the two, after which the suspect inflicted fatal injuries. In an attempt to conceal the crime, he allegedly sought help from an acquaintance, a 28-year-old identified as G.K.
Together, they transported the remains by taxi to Istanbul’s Sisli district and disposed of them in different trash containers. A third individual — the taxi driver — is also under investigation to determine whether he was aware of what was being transported.
What public reaction followed the incident?
The killing of Durdona Hakimova sparked protests in Istanbul and Ankara. According to Türkiye Today, demonstrators gathered in the Sisli district and in the Turkish capital to demand justice.
In Istanbul, protesters marched from the Osmanbey metro station to the street where the body was found, carrying signs reading “Migrant women are not alone” and “Women’s lives matter.”
How have legal and civil groups responded?
On January 26, the Women’s Rights Center of the Istanbul Bar Association issued an official statement, describing the tragedy as a result of systemic gaps in protecting migrant women.
Civil society organizations announced their intention to closely monitor the court proceedings and to seek the maximum possible punishment for all those found responsible.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The investigation is ongoing. All suspects have been taken into custody, while police continue to analyze surveillance footage, witness statements, and the movements of everyone involved.
