Turkish police have detained 22 people and seized 7,000 bottles of bootleg alcohol in an investigation into the deaths of four Russian tourists of suspected alcohol poisoning after a yacht party near the resort of Bodrum, Interfax reported.
Turkish prosecutors are treating the deaths as murder after methanol was found to have been added to the alcohol consumed during the May 27 outing, the report said, citing Turkey's Tourism Ministry.
"We are not talking about poisoning from spoiled food due to negligence or irresponsibility," the ministry said. "Those who added methanol to the alcohol knew that they had added a poison that could kill people. The person or persons deserve no mercy."
The four dead tourists were among 20 Russians hospitalized after the yacht trip. One Russian remained in a coma in a Turkish hospital Wednesday.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
