Turkey issues arrest warrant for retired colonel found in north Cyprus
Turkish prosecutors have issued a detention warrant for a retired colonel located in the occupied north, as part of a reopened probe into a 2011 prison death in Silivri.
Turkish authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a retired colonel who has been located in the occupied north, as part of a reopened investigation into the death of a Turkish intelligence officer at Silivri prison in 2011, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
Hasan Atilla Ugur, a retired colonel who once served in Turkey's gendarmerie technical intelligence department, is one of four suspects named in detention warrants issued by the Silivri chief public prosecutor's office.
The other three — Hasan Ataman Yildirim, a fellow prisoner of the deceased, along with former Silivri chief prosecutor Ali Isgoren and former prison prosecutor Necip Dogan — were taken into custody during operations in Istanbul and Ankara.
According to Turkish reports, legal proceedings to locate, arrest and return Ugur from the north to Turkey are under way.
The warrants relate to the death of Kasif Kozinoglu, a former officer with Turkey's national intelligence organisation (MIT), who died at Silivri state hospital on November 12, 2011, while being held under the Ergenekon investigation. The official cause of death was recorded as a heart attack, though his family disputed the finding at the time, saying he had no known heart problems. An exhumation order has also been issued as part of the renewed inquiry, with samples taken from Kozinoglu's grave being examined to determine whether he had been administered any other medication while in custody.
What it means for residents
The case is unfolding in the occupied north, outside the areas administered by the Republic of Cyprus. For residents on this side of the island, there is no direct practical impact on daily life, documents or services.
- Jurisdiction. Any detention or transfer would take place in the occupied north, where Republic of Cyprus authorities have no enforcement role.
- No local services affected. The investigation does not involve Cypriot courts, police or government offices.
- Watch for developments. The case may generate political commentary, but it does not change rules or procedures for people living in the south.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
