Turkish court delays hearings on the death of Russian citizen Anastasia Emelyanova until March
A Turkish court has postponed the hearings in the case surrounding the death of Russian national Anastasia Emelyanova in Erzurum in September 2023. The rescheduled session by March will focus on reviewing data retrieved from the smartwatch worn by the Russian woman on the final day of her life, according to the authorities on record.
Investigators say Emelyanova, aged 33, worked as a manager for a company in Turkey. During her time there she met Syrian citizen Mohammed Nizar Arnabeh, age 30, and the two reportedly developed a close friendship that evolved into other circumstances under investigation.
Neighbors recalled that a dispute occurred on the evening of September 20, 2023, after which the remains of the Russian woman were discovered. Arnabeh claimed to have alerted neighbors once the body was found. In the subsequent inquiry, Emelyanova was charged with murder. Arnabeh has disputed the accusation of guilt. The body was later transported back to Russia for further procedures.
Emelyanova’s attorney, Begüm Osma, stated that prosecutors had pushed for a conviction against the Syrian suspect, but the court opted to pause the case to allow an examination of the smartwatch data currently in question. The legal proceedings are proceeding with a focus on electronic evidence available from wearable technology and other investigative materials, DHA reported.
Earlier in Egypt, a Russian woman disappeared after diving into the water and has not resurfaced. In Turkey, there have been prior cases involving missing tourists and subsequent discoveries, including the case of a tourist from Kirov whose body was located after an extended search. These incidents underscore ongoing concerns about safety and safety protocols for visitors traveling in the region, with authorities continuing to investigate and clarify the circumstances surrounding each event, DHA noted.