Interior Minister admits ‘misinformation’ about investigation into Kadirova’s death

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Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has answered a Parliamentary question by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, who asked the Minister about the investigation launched into the suspicious death of Nadira Kadirova.

Domestic worker Kadirova (23) from Uzbekistan was found dead on September 23, 2019 in the house of Şirin Ünal, an MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). She was claimed to shot herself dead with Ünal's weapon. The prosecutor's office also concluded that there was a lack of grounds for legal action and closed her investigation file on March 5.

However, another Parliamentary question by Tanrıkulu addressed to Vice President Fuat Oktay was answered by the Directorate General of Security on June 15, 2020. In this answer shared through the Ministry of Interior, it was said, "With regard to the incident cited in the Parliamentary question, the inquiry with the investigation file no. 2019/148242 is still ongoing."

Misiniformation investigated

As reported by daily Cumhuriyet, Interior Minister Soylu has answered the recent Parliamentary question of Sezgin Tanrıkulu and admitted that false information was shared about the investigation in the previous answer.

In his recent answer, Soylu has said, "It has been understood that, on March 3, 2020, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office concluded that 'there was no ground for prosecution in the name of public' and it has been finalized by the Ankara 2nd Penal Judgeship of Peace' and, in that case, it has also been understood that false information was given."

Soylu has noted that "the necessary investigation has been launched by himself against the ones who caused the mistake in question and the necessary will be done about the responsible ones as soon as possible."

What happened?

23-year-old Nadira Kadirova from Uzbekistan was a domestic worker caring for the ill wife of Şirin Ünal, an İstanbul MP for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Kadirova was found dead in Ünal's house on September 23, 2019.

It was alleged that she committed suicide with Ünal's weapon. The post-mortem procedures of Kadirova were followed by Ünal's chauffeur and the procedures that usually take longer were completed in a few days. After this swift post-mortem examination, the deceased body of Kadirova was sent to her home country and laid to rest there.

The death of Kadirova was found suspicious. While women kept asking "What happened to Nadira?" on social media, the MPs of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Felicity Party (SP) brought the issue to the Parliamentary agenda.

In March 2020, the prosecutor's office gave a decision of non-prosecution. (EMK/SD)