Why is video evidence found after 6 years in one case, but “cannot be obtained” in another?

Two cases. Two disappearances. Two completely different “possibilities” to find evidence. In the case of Gülistan Doku, who disappeared in Turkey in 2020, the investigation gained new momentum six years later. Video recordings were found and analyzed, events were reconstructed, and high-ranking individuals — including a former governor and his associates — were detained. The investigation continued despite the passage of time. But in the case of Turkmen activists Alisher Sahatov and Abdulla Orusov, the situation is entirely different. According to an official response from the Edirne Prosecutor’s Office, video recordings from the deportation center for the key date — July 24, 2025 — could not be obtained, as the storage period for such recordings is only 6 months. However, this explanation raises serious doubts. Why is it possible in one case to recover and examine video materials after 6 years, while in another case it becomes “impossible” after just a few months? Why did the prosecutor’s office fail to secure the recordings in time, despite the seriousness of the case? And most importantly — could this be an attempt to conceal evidence? The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights directly points to suspicious circumstances: > “All of this raises serious concerns and leads to conclusions about a deliberate attempt to mislead in order to conceal a crime.” Moreover, according to THF, the administration of the center: failed to provide recordings even upon the prosecutor’s request delayed the process redirected lawyers to other cities and the head of the institution went on leave immediately after the disappearance Such a combination of actions cannot be considered a coincidence. This is no longer a matter of technical impossibility. It is a question of political will, transparency, and accountability. If in one case state authorities are capable of retrieving evidence years later and advancing the investigation to arrests, then the technical means clearly exist. And if in another case key evidence “disappears” within months, this raises well-founded suspicions of a cover-up. Today, the question must be asked directly: Why are some cases investigated, while others are silenced? And who is responsible for the disappearance of both people and evidence? --- Source: Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights https://tmhelsinki.org/ru/article/dc79... Photo: taken from the website of the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights