ISTANBUL INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE SHOT DEAD

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000636 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV TU SUBJECT: ISTANBUL INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE SHOT DEAD ¶1. Tuncay Seyranlioglu, an independent candidate for parliament in Istanbul's 2nd electoral district, was shot dead on July 16 in the suburban Kemerburgaz neighborhood of Istanbul. Seyranlioglu had just finished a television interview when assailants opened fire on his vehicle. His three passengers were wounded and Seyranlioglu died en route to the hospital. Three suspects were reportedly arrested later on July 16 in Istanbul's Sisli district, but police have refused to comment on the case. ¶2. According to press reports, Seyranlioglu was the owner of Tamgun, a small local newspaper, as well as a construction company and several wedding/function halls in Istanbul's Eyup district. The shooting has received broad local media coverage, although no press reports thus far indicate that the murder was politically motivated. Aksam newspaper reports that the police had opened over 30 fraud cases against Seyranlioglu, and CNN Turk speculates he was killed as the result of a business conflict. ¶3. Comment. Seyranlioglu was one of 44 independent candidates running for parliament in Istanbul's 2nd district. As far as we can tell he was politically unaffiliated, had not been actively campaigning/advertising and was unlikely to attract the estimated 60,000 to 70,000 votes needed to win a seat in parliament in this very competitive district. End Comment. OUDKIRK