10.07.2026 00:10
In the Alanya district of Antalya, a burkini scandal occurred that is rarely seen in a Muslim country. Ludmina I., a Russian-born site manager, prevented a 13-year-old Turkish girl from entering the shared pool of the complex in her burkini, claiming 'the clothes dirty the pool,' but faced judicial obstacles. This insolent act of religious discrimination by a foreigner in Turkey sparked outrage on social media, and the detained Russian manager was swiftly arrested and sent to prison.
In the Alanya district of Antalya, a 64-year-old Russian site manager named Ludmina I. prevented a 13-year-old girl from entering the shared pool of the complex wearing a burkini and insulted the child by saying, 'These clothes dirty the pool.' She was arrested and sent to prison after being referred to judicial authorities. This attempt by a foreign manager in a Muslim country to restrict religious values and freedom of dress has made the incident much more striking and intriguing.
'THESE CLOTHES DIRTY THE POOL, DON'T COME AGAIN' The incident occurred at a complex located on 109th Street in the Mahmutlar neighborhood of Alanya. According to allegations, a 13-year-old girl named H.K. wanted to enter the complex's shared pool to cool off while wearing a modest swimsuit. At that moment, the Russian site manager Ludmina I., who had come down from her apartment, approached the young girl and directly intervened.
When the young girl asked why she couldn't enter, the Russian manager said, 'Your clothes are dirtying the pool. We pay a lot for this pool. The management board has decided you cannot enter.' When H.K. tried to explain that her burkini was made of the same fabric as regular bikinis and swimsuits, just with a different design, Ludmina I. ignored her and harshly insulted the 13-year-old child by saying, 'You can enter since you've come today, but don't come again after this.'
FIRST RELEASED, THEN ARRESTED The young girl, crying, told her family about the injustice and exclusion she faced, and her relatives immediately reported the situation to the gendarmerie. After H.K.'s brother-in-law Selahattin Uğurkutu shared the issue on social media, the incident quickly sparked widespread outrage. The fact that a foreign national living in Turkey interfered with a Turkish citizen's religious sensitivities in this way caused reactions to snowball.
Upon the report, gendarmerie teams came to the complex and took the Russian woman to the station to give her statement. After her initial statement, the suspect was released, but due to reactions on social media and instructions from the prosecutor's office, she was taken back into custody in the morning. Ludmina I. was sent to the Alanya Courthouse and then brought before the duty magistrate on duty with a request for arrest. The court decided to arrest the suspect on charges of insulting religious values and discrimination, and sent her to Alanya L-Type Prison.
FATHER KILIÇKAYA: 'THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT MY DAUGHTER'S PRIDE, BUT OUR RELIGIOUS SENSITIVITIES' Father Fatih Kılıçkaya, speaking after the incident, said the following regarding the Russian manager's attitude and the process:
'It deeply upset us that a foreign site manager tried to interfere with the burkini that a Muslim woman or young girl should wear. Here, it's not just about a young girl's pride being hurt; it's a reckless approach toward our religious sensitivities. Also, instead of speaking directly to a child this way, they should have contacted the family first. Chechen families also live in the same complex. Last year, there was no issue; my daughter and others entered with burkinis. This year, after the management changed, this woman tried to impose such a ban on her own. After we shared the issue on social media, the authorities of our state handled the process much more quickly and decisively than we expected, and we thank them.'
It has been learned that the judicial process regarding the incident continues.