Turkish entrepreneur murdered in Uzbekistan, four arrested in Istanbul

Uzbek authorities have revealed details surrounding the death of a Turkish businessman in the Karaulbazar district of Bukhara region, Uzbekistan, in what investigators believe was a homicide involving fellow Turkish citizens. Four suspects have been detained in Istanbul as part of a coordinated law enforcement operation between the two countries.

The victim, 49-year-old Kadir Tunç, was found on October 17, 2025, by a local livestock breeder in a steppe area. His body, partially buried with soil, was in an advanced state of decomposition. Investigators determined that Tunç died from stab wounds and that the perpetrators were not strangers but fellow Turkish nationals.

During the preliminary investigation, authorities traced a vehicle that passed through the crime scene. The car, rented by 51-year-old Suat T., a resident of Istanbul, contained blood traces that forensic testing confirmed belonged to the deceased.

As part of a joint law enforcement operation between Uzbekistan and Türkiye, Suat T. and three other suspects were arrested in Istanbul. All admitted to their involvement in the murder during interrogation.

The investigation revealed that Tunç and Suat T. had met in Uzbekistan to discuss opening a restaurant. A financial dispute arose when Suat T. gave Tunç $20,000 for the project but demanded repayment after the deal failed. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation inside the car, during which Tunç sustained fatal injuries.

According to authorities, the suspects moved the body slightly away from the main road, partially covered it with soil, and then returned to Türkiye. Suat T. later sent an acquaintance to Uzbekistan to return the rented car; the individual was reportedly unaware of the crime.

The criminal case against all four suspects has now been transferred to court, and the investigation is officially complete.

By Vafa Guliyeva