Durdona Khakimova and Her Children Repatriated to Uzbekistan Following Tragic Incident in Istanbul

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbek citizen Durdona Khakimova and her two children have been safely returned to their homeland with the assistance of the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul. All expenses related to the family’s return were covered by the consulate and the Migration Agency.

The Consulate General emphasized that one-sided and negative comments defaming the deceased have been circulating on social media. Investigations confirmed that Durdona Khakimova was the founder of Eskeri Melzeme, a military uniform store in Istanbul’s Fatih district, actively engaged in entrepreneurship, and provided assistance to numerous fellow citizens. Her children were enrolled in a lyceum with an advanced design curriculum.

“We urge the public to refrain from spreading biased or offensive information about our fellow citizens without thoroughly verifying the facts. Such actions may lead to legal liability and foster a negative perception of our nation internationally,” the diplomatic mission stated.

On 24 January 2026, at approximately 19:40 in Istanbul’s Şişli district, a local scrap collector discovered a wrapped body in a trash container and reported it to the police. Preliminary examination revealed the victim was decapitated.

During joint investigative measures conducted by the Consulate General, local law enforcement agencies, the forensic center, and the prosecutor’s office, the identity of the deceased was established as Durdona Khakimova, a citizen of Uzbekistan.

Two Uzbek nationals have been detained in connection with the case. According to the consulate, they were arrested while attempting to leave Türkiye and fly to Georgia.