Chechen man killed in Turkey’s Kocaeli

Ruslan Israpilov, 46, was shot four times in the chest late on May 11.

“According to the information we obtained, Israpilov was shot by unknown assailants while he was at his house with his family. He was shot in several different parts of his body. The citizen died on the spot and the attackers escaped,” İlimtepe neighborhood village head Kazım Elmas told journalists, while adding that Israpilov had moved to the neighborhood a year ago. 

An unidentified person rang the bell of Israpilov’s house, asked to meet him outside and then fired shots as the victim exited the residence, according to reports. 

The gendarmerie compiled evidence at the scene, while the public prosecutor examined the area. 

Eyewitnesses said three people escaped the scene after the attack.

Friends of the Chechen man who arrived at the scene blamed Russian intelligence for killing Israpilov.

A large-scale investigation was launched into the attack and the gendarmerie began search to apprehend the suspects.

Israpilov, who was also known as “Resul,” moved to Istanbul from Chechnya four years ago and then moved to Kocaeli. He was a mechanical engineer and was working in a factory that produced agricultural tools, Doğan News Agency reported.

Elmas said 87 Chechen families were living in the neighborhood where the attack took place, adding most of them were Turkish citizens.