21.04.2026 10:00
Tuncay Sonel, the former governor of Tunceli, who was detained and referred to the courthouse as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Gülistan Doku in 2020, did not give a statement to the police. Sonel, who has been suspended, responded to the questions asked of him by saying, "I am the governor of the state, I will not answer at the police station. I am exercising my right to remain silent."
Former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, who was detained in Elazığ as part of the Gülistan Doku investigation and brought to Erzurum on April 17, 2026, has completed his 3-day interrogation at the police and has been referred to the courthouse.
HE WAS SUSPENDED
In the investigation of Gülistan Doku, a second-year student in the Child Development Department of Munzur University in Tunceli, who has been missing since January 5, 2020, operations were carried out in 7 provinces on suspicion of murder, and 11 people were arrested. Among those arrested was Tuncay Sonel, the then Governor of Tunceli and Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Interior, whose son Mustafa Türkay Sonel and protection police Ş.E. were also among the detainees. He was first suspended by the Ministry of Interior.
HE STAYED IN POLICE CUSTODY FOR 3 DAYS
Afterwards, Tuncay Sonel, who was found in Elazığ, was detained by the Elazığ Provincial Police Department teams and brought to Erzurum by road. Tuncay Sonel, whose 3-day interrogation was completed with an extension at the Erzurum Police Department's Public Order Branch, was brought to Erzurum Courthouse for his interrogation at the prosecutor's office. Intense security measures were taken around the courthouse.
HE IS ACCUSED OF TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE
In the investigation launched regarding 21-year-old Gülistan Doku, who went missing 6 years ago, former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, who was detained and whose statement was completed at the Erzurum Police Department, was referred to the courthouse in the morning on charges of "tampering with evidence."
SONEL: I AM THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, I WILL NOT ANSWER AT THE POLICE
According to the news from Merve Tokaz of CNN Türk; Sonel, who stayed in police custody for 3 days, did not give his statement, saying, "I am the governor of the state, I will not answer at the police. I am exercising my right to remain silent."
The investigation regarding Tuncay Sonel, who served in Tunceli between June 13, 2017, and June 9, 2020, is being conducted by the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in accordance with the relevant legislation.