Second brutal crime uncovered during murder investigation

Another Uzbek woman has been found brutally murdered in Turkey. Before the shock surrounding the case of Durdona Hakimova—whose head was severed and body parts were discarded in garbage containers—had subsided, new information emerged indicating that her friend was also killed and dismembered in the same apartment.

The same suspects—two Uzbek men—are believed to be responsible. The investigation into the “suitcase murder” that began in Istanbul’s Şişli district in late January has taken a tragic turn. What initially appeared to be a single murder has now been revealed as a case of serial brutality allegedly committed by Uzbek migrants.

Second victim: Sayyora’s mysterious disappearance

On February 6, the family of 32-year-old Sayyora Ergashaliyeva appealed on social media, saying they had lost contact with her. Sayyora had arrived in Turkey on December 28, 2025, and last contacted her family on January 23, one day before the murder. Her parents traveled to Turkey in hopes of finding her.

After reviewing security footage, police discovered that Sayyora’s last known location was the same apartment where Durdona Hakimova was killed and dismembered on January 24. Cameras showed Sayyora entering the apartment on January 23 and never leaving. Shortly afterward, the two suspects in Durdona’s murder—31-year-old Dilshod Turdimurodov and 29-year-old G‘ofurjon Kamolxo‘jayev—were also seen entering the residence.

Investigators believe Sayyora was killed one day before Durdona in the same manner, with her body dismembered and dumped in different locations. Authorities also established that the victims and suspects had lived in the same apartment for nearly a month, and that Sayyora and one of the suspects had been in a relationship.

Security footage showed the suspects leaving the apartment multiple times on January 24 carrying garbage bags, and later departing with a white suitcase. They reportedly took a taxi to the Fatih district, disposed of body parts in trash containers, and then walked to the Yenikapı Marmaray station.

During questioning, the two suspects—already in custody for Durdona Hakimova’s murder—confessed that Sayyora Ergashaliyeva had also been killed with a knife in the same apartment on January 23. A new criminal case for intentional murder has been opened, and the suspects were expected to appear in court on February 13.

The first tragedy: a “bloody discovery” in a trash container

The chain of crimes was first uncovered on January 24 in Şişli’s Duatepe neighborhood, when a waste collector found a woman’s body wrapped in a sheet, with the head and limbs severed. Fingerprint analysis later identified the victim as 37-year-old Durdona Hakimova.

Investigators say the suspects dismembered the body with extreme cold-bloodedness, placing each body part in separate plastic bags. The two suspects were detained at Istanbul Airport the same day while attempting to flee to Georgia. Turkish media reported that they had even visited a barber before trying to escape.

The brutal killing sparked public outrage in Turkey, including protests by women’s rights activists.

On January 30, Hakimova’s remains and her two children were returned to Uzbekistan with assistance from the Consulate General in Istanbul and the Migration Agency, which covered the expenses.

Cold-blooded killers

Investigators say the crimes appear systematic rather than spontaneous. Preliminary findings indicate that on January 22 the victims and suspects had lunch together at a restaurant in Istanbul’s Fatih district. A dispute reportedly arose between Sayyora and one suspect after she expressed a desire to return to Uzbekistan.

One day later, on January 23, the suspects allegedly killed Sayyora with a knife, dismembered her body, and disposed of the remains in trash containers in Fatih. On January 24, they allegedly sent a message from Sayyora’s phone to lure Durdona Hakimova to the apartment, where she was killed in the same manner and her remains discarded in Şişli.

Turkish media report that Sayyora’s remains have now been located, though the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute has not yet confirmed their arrival. Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Istanbul stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and cooperating with Turkish law enforcement.

Analysis: the risks of unsafe connections abroad

The case has raised urgent concerns about social safety among Uzbek migrants. The fact that both suspects and victims are from the same country, and the extreme brutality of the crimes, has shocked the public.

Many commentators say the murders appear to be premeditated rather than the result of a simple dispute.

The apartment in Istanbul’s Şişli district becoming a “grave” for two women serves as a stark warning for citizens living abroad to remain vigilant and cautious when forming new connections.

In your view, what measures should be taken to ensure the safety of citizens living abroad? Can crimes like this be prevented?