A criminal tragedy in Istanbul, Turkey, has drawn the attention of both national and international media. According to local reports, Uzbek citizen Rustam Otamirzayev has been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for stabbing to death his compatriot, Vasilakhon Usmonova.
The incident took place on April 18 in the Pendik district. According to the investigation, during an argument, the man took the woman to the basement of a house, beat her, and then stabbed her multiple times. He fled the scene afterward.
The indictment prepared by the Anadolu Chief Prosecutor’s Office stated that the accused was charged with “premeditated murder” — with a request for aggravated life imprisonment — and “armed robbery,” carrying an additional sentence of 10 to 15 years.
The trial was held at Istanbul’s 17th High Criminal Court. During the hearing, Rustam Otamirzayev admitted his guilt, expressed remorse, and asked for leniency, saying he needed to care for his 80-year-old mother.
One of the witnesses described the incident as follows: “I woke up around 8:30 from the sound of screaming. When I opened the door, I saw the defendant stabbing the woman in the neck and trying to drag her into the basement. We shouted for him to stop, but he didn’t listen. Within minutes, the woman stopped moving.”
The prosecutor fully upheld the charges and requested a life sentence. The court panel found the evidence sufficient and announced the verdict — Rustam Otamirzayev was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for intentional murder.
The tragedy sparked widespread discussion not only in Turkey but also in Uzbekistan. Officials noted that the case serves as yet another horrifying example of the consequences of jealousy and domestic violence.
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