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An Istanbul court sentenced three defendants to two aggravated life sentences each plus 143 years in prison for the January 2024 armed attack on Santa Maria Italian Church in Sariyer that left one person dead, marking the conclusion of a major terrorism trial.
The Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court convicted David Tanduev, Amirkon Khaliqov and Adam Khamirzaev of "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order of the Republic of Türkiye through force and violence" and "premeditated murder," sentencing each to two aggravated life terms.
The court additionally sentenced the three to 143 years each for "attempted premeditated murder" against 11 victims present at the church during the attack.
The sixth hearing of the trial, involving 43 defendants—32 of whom were in custody—was held at the hearing hall in Marmara Penal Institution.
The court sentenced five additional defendants—Shamsullo Radzhaboz, Alisher Rakhimov, Farrukh Soliev, Abdulaziz Abdullaev and Rasul Akhmadjanov—to a total of 101 years and six months each for three separate offenses.
These defendants received 15 years for "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order through force and violence," 15 years for "aiding premeditated murder," and 71 years and six months for "aiding attempted premeditated murder."
The court ruled that the charge of "armed terrorist organization membership" was absorbed into the charge of "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order" and therefore no separate verdict was necessary on that count.
Two defendants, Isminali Mirzojonov and Edelkhan Inazhaev, were sentenced to six years and three months each for "armed terrorist organization membership."
The court acquitted 31 defendants, while other defendants received varying prison terms.
The attack occurred on Jan. 28, 2024, at Santa Maria Italian Church in Sariyer during Sunday mass. Tuncer Cihan was killed in the attack, and 11 others, including church priest Anton Bulai, were listed as victims in the indictment.
Following the attack, security forces launched simultaneous operations at 30 addresses targeting Daesh members, detaining 51 suspects. Twenty-three suspects determined to have no connection to the attack were sent to deportation centers.
Of the 34 suspects sent to the courthouse after police processing, 25 were arrested on charges of "organization membership" and "premeditated murder," including Daesh suspect Amirjon Kholiqov, who opened fire in the church and caused Cihan's death, and David Tanduev, who accompanied him.
Nine other suspects were released under judicial control.
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau had sought two aggravated life sentences each, plus 218 years and seven months to 349 years and six months in prison for the principal attackers.
Twenty defendants faced similar charges carrying two aggravated life terms each, plus 217 years and one month to 345 years.
Eighteen defendants were charged solely with "armed terrorist organization membership," with prosecutors seeking seven years and six months to 15 years each.
Defendant Viskhan Soltamatov, alleged to have participated in meetings planning the church attack, faced one aggravated life sentence, one life sentence, and up to 349 years and six months for charges including "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order," "armed terrorist organization membership," "premeditated murder" and "attempted premeditated murder."
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