21.04.2026 17:00
In the Gülistan Doku case, while 11 people, including the son of the then-governor Tuncay Sonel, were arrested, TGRT News Ankara Representative Fatih Atik made striking claims based on the information from secret witness statements that heavy odors were coming from Zaynal Abakarov's house. Atik asked, "Did this family take on a duty in the disappearance of Gülistan's body?"
A new development has occurred in the investigation regarding university student Gülistan Doku, who went missing in Tunceli in 2020. Out of approximately 20 people detained within the scope of the reopened case, 11 have been arrested.
SONEL'S SON AMONG THE ARRESTED It has been learned that Mustafa Türkay Sonel, the son of former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, is among those arrested. Meanwhile, the then-governor Tuncay Sonel has also been referred to the courthouse.
CONFIDENTIAL WITNESS STATEMENTS DEEPENED THE INVESTIGATION In the statements of the confidential witness included in the investigation file, it was alleged that Mustafa Türkay Sonel shared some claims with his surroundings. The detail of the "strong odor" mentioned in the witness statements was among the striking elements in the file. While the case has not yet been clarified, a striking claim came from TGRT News Ankara Representative Fatih Atik. Atik pointed to Gülistan's ex-boyfriend Zeynal, saying, "In the witness statement, it is said that a very strong odor came from the house of these individuals. Could it be that they hid Gülistan's body and then, as it began to decompose, a smell emerged? Did this family take on a duty in the disappearance of Gülistan's corpse? Questions arise in one's mind." he said.
"HE EXPERIENCED POWER CORRUPTION DUE TO HIS FATHER" Atik emphasized that Türkay was able to roam freely in Tunceli, stating, "At that time, his father was the governor of Tunceli, so all administrative authority belonged to him. As the highest authority, his father Tuncay Sonel is at the top, thus all units in Tunceli are subordinate to the father. We see that the child derives power from this and benefits from these opportunities. From time to time, they have used various facilities of the municipality, the governorship, and the state there. It is already said that the incident of abuse occurred at the Youth Sports Center. Besides, for example, they have occasionally used the homes of single police officers. When you look at such news, it would not be wrong to say that the child perceives his father's power as his own and experiences power corruption." he stated.
"THERE IS A WEB OF CONTRADICTIONS IN THE STATEMENTS" Atik noted that the main suspect Sonel denies everything, stating, "When you look at his statements, there is a web of contradictions. Previously, evidence proving that he knew Gülistan Doku was shared with the public. In his statement, Türkay Sonel claimed that he did not know Doku in any way, that he learned about the events from social media, that they never met, and that he was slandered. However, when you look at the narrowed base record, security camera footage, and the statements of other confidential witnesses and confessors, it is evident that Türkay Sonel had a romantic relationship with Gülistan Doku. We see that several people have confirmed this, as he has met with the person he claimed not to know on different occasions in various places. Doku's SIM card was also handed over to hackers by his father, and the contents were deleted. If there were any contents on his social media account, the messages were deleted. Then it was handed over to the police. When you put all of these together, it is clear that Türkay Sonel lied, that he knew Gülistan, and that he had communication and a relationship with her. We have a character like this in front of us, who is currently denying everything." he expressed.
Zaynal Abakarov "WHEN REACTIONS CAME, THEY BROUGHT ZEYNEL TO A LUXURY HOTEL IN TURKEY" Atik continued his remarks: "I was really surprised when I read the statement that Zeynel, Gülistan's ex-boyfriend, stayed at a luxury hotel with his stepfather. Because according to what the father said, they are among the last people to see Gülistan... They came to their house, asked this child for help, called several times, stayed at their home for a few hours, and then left the house to go to the dormitory at midnight. There are statements in the testimony that Zeynel was sent after her by his father with instructions to take the girl to the dormitory. The governor seems to be at the very center of this issue. Because this police officer Engin Yücer, who is Zeynel's stepfather, calls the police and says, 'I will send Zeynel abroad, is there any problem?' He is asking for permission from the police. They say you can send him, and they send the child abroad to Russia.
Then events break out in Tunceli, the situation gets chaotic, and he is identified as the suspect. Because the usual suspect is the ex-boyfriend. When citizens react, this time the return of Zeynel to Turkey comes to the forefront, and the governor's office reaches out to the father. A cash amount of 4,000 TL for the plane ticket is given, and they do not send it from the account to avoid it being recorded. Zeynel comes to Antalya with his family, and they handle the passport control there. He is taken out through VIP and taken to a luxury five-star hotel under police supervision. The whole family stays for three months, and during this time, they are not allowed to meet anyone.
Isn't it very interesting? While an investigation is being conducted for Gülistan in Tunceli, and while Gülistan is being searched in the dam lake and fields there, the suspect ex-boyfriend Zeynel is brought to Turkey but is hidden in Antalya by the police.
"IT WAS SAID THAT A BAD SMELL CAME FROM THEIR HOUSES" And there is also this; in the witness statement, it is said that a very strong odor came from the house of these individuals. Could it be that they hid Gülistan's body and then, as it began to decompose, a smell emerged? Did this family take on a duty in the disappearance of Gülistan's corpse? Questions arise in one's mind. It is likely that something like this could have happened, as they had separated at that time. Gülistan may have mentioned Türkay, saying they are threatening me, and told about the other things that happened to her. Did they hide the family to prevent this information from coming out? Father Tuncay Sonel was also brought to the courthouse, and I expect his arrest as well. Because it is evident that they have darkened the life of a very young girl and then covered up the evidence to close the case."