Man aiding Chechens murdered in Ankara

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Medet Ünlü(L), who is named by some as 'Chechnya’s consular agent to Turkey,' was murdered in his office. AA photo

A businessman known for his aid work for Chechens living in Turkey was murdered by an unknown assailant or assailants in the Turkish capital of Ankara yesterday evening.

Medet Ünlü was murdered in his office in Ankara. Interior Minister Muammer Güler denied the reports that Ünlü was Chechnya’s honorary consular agent to Turkey. Güler told reporters on May 23 that a suspect was seen on security camera footage entering the building and leaving around 15 minutes later.

Chechnya is not recognized as an independent state by Turkey. An investigation has been launched by the Ankara public prosecutor and Ünlü’s body has been sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Ankara for an autopsy. Ünlü recently said in a televised interview that the two Chechen brothers involved in the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings had been chosen as victims, and that his country was being unfairly linked to terrorism.

Ünlü’s relatives said he had “suffered oppression” from some circles, particularly pointing to Ramazan Kadirov, the current leader of Chechnya.