A disturbing discovery was made in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul on Tuesday, July 29, as local police found the body of a 20-year-old Russian citizen, identified as Usman A., in a wooded area. According to the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, the young man was found with a black plastic garbage bag over his head and his mouth sealed with tape.
A passerby reportedly stumbled upon the corpse and immediately alerted authorities. Upon arrival, police and medical teams conducted a search of the area, discovering a shoulder bag, a mobile phone, cash, a public transport pass, and a computer-printed note in Russian near the body.
"Sakhomenan, I hope these words never reach you. They will slander me, don’t believe them. If this letter has reached you, it means I am no longer alive. I swear, I was only seeking the truth, and it was all in vain. I will not go down in history as a scientist. No books will be written about me, but everyone will face their punishment. I beg you, don’t let them bury me like an obedient man,"
The note ended with a verse from the Al-Baqara surah of the Quran, adding to the mystery surrounding the young man’s death. Turkish authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances. Prosecutors inspected the scene before the body was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Institute morgue for autopsy.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the death was a suicide or the result of foul play. The cryptic contents of the note and the physical state of the body have raised serious concerns among investigators.
The identity of "Sakhomenan," referenced in the letter, has not yet been clarified, and Turkish law enforcement is reportedly working in cooperation with Russian diplomatic channels to piece together the events leading up to the incident.
