Viskhan Soltamatiov, one of the key planners behind the attack on Santa Maria Italian Church in Sarıyer, Istanbul, has been captured through a successful operation by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT). The operation comes after thorough surveillance and intelligence gathering on the terrorist’s movements in Istanbul, leading to his arrest.
Soltamatiov was responsible for providing the weapon used in the January 28 attack on the Santa Maria Church. His arrest marks a significant milestone in the ongoing counterterrorism efforts against ISIS in Turkey. The attack was part of a broader plan by ISIS to destabilise regions through orchestrated violence, particularly targeting religious and cultural landmarks.
Following the Santa Maria Church attack, a detailed investigation was launched, resulting in a comprehensive indictment involving 42 suspects, 31 of whom are currently in custody. The attack, which took place on a Sunday, led to the tragic death of one person, Tuncer Cihan. Prosecutors are now seeking heavy sentences for the suspects, with prison terms ranging from 7 years 6 months to 349 years 6 months.
The indictment outlines serious charges against David Tanduev and Amirjon Kholiqov, the two arrested perpetrators of the attack. They, along with their associates Edelkhan Inazhaev and his wife Zharaidat Esmurzieva, face accusations of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order of the Republic of Turkey through violence and terror. Additional charges include membership of an armed terrorist organisation, premeditated murder, and the possession of illegal firearms. Prosecutors are seeking life sentences alongside prison terms of up to 349 years for the principal suspects involved.
The indictment also includes 20 other suspects who face similar charges, including attempting to overthrow the government and terrorism-related offences. Each of these suspects could face life imprisonment, in addition to sentences ranging from 217 years to 345 years for their involvement. One of the suspects, Inazhaev, also faces additional charges of forgery of official documents, which could lead to an extra prison term of 3 to 7 years.
The January 28 attack on the Santa Maria Church left the community in shock, with one person losing their life. Tuncer Cihan, who was present during the attack, was tragically killed, while the church’s priest, Father Anton Bulai, was among the survivors. The indictment lists Father Bulai and 10 others as victims of the planned attack. The investigation has concluded that this act of violence was part of a broader ISIS strategy to incite fear and destabilise the region through targeted acts of terror.
The indictment has been submitted to the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court, where the case will now proceed to trial. The suspects, if found guilty, face harsh sentences for their involvement in the attack and their connections to ISIS. The operation by MIT to capture Soltamatiov represents a critical victory in Turkey’s efforts to combat terrorism and protect the security of its citizens.
