64-Year-Old Armenian Man Stabbed to Death After Rent Dispute in Istanbul; Suspect Confesses 

A 64-year-old man identified by Turkish media as an Armenian citizen was found stabbed to death in a residential building in Istanbul, and a suspect has been jailed after confessing to the killing, according to reports cited by Ermenihaber.

The victim, Agop (Hakob) Degirmencioglu, was found in a building in Beyoglu, a central Istanbul district. Police opened a murder investigation after discovering stab wounds on the back and side of his neck.

The case came to light when Mehmet Serif Tayik, 45, called police to report a foul smell coming from the building. Officers responding to the call found Degirmencioglu’s body. It was later sent for a forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Tayik, who was among the last people known to have seen Degirmencioglu, initially told investigators that he had found him unresponsive. Police later found inconsistencies in his account and detained him for further questioning.

During a second interrogation, Tayik confessed to the killing, according to Turkish media. He told investigators that he and Degirmencioglu had argued over rent and claimed the victim insulted him before he stabbed him.

A court later ordered Tayik held in pretrial detention on an intentional homicide charge.

Celal Kilic, a neighborhood resident who said he had known Degirmencioglu for years, described him as a peaceful and friendly man. He said Degirmencioglu had lived in the building for years despite its poor condition.

Kilic said the stabbing took place on a staircase or in a corridor rather than inside an apartment. He also said Tayik called police about two days after the killing to report the smell coming from the building.

Turkish media have reported that Degirmencioglu was a citizen of Armenia. His Armenian citizenship has not been independently confirmed.

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