Former CHP MP Advisor Found Dead in Ankara’s Mavi Göl
Former parliamentary advisor Serdar Özkanatoğlu, who previously worked for Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ankara MP Umut Akdoğan, was found dead in Mavi Göl in the capital Ankara. His body was discovered in the lake after his family reported him missing when he failed to return home.
According to initial information, Özkanatoğlu left his home in the Mamak district two days before his body was found, following an argument with his wife. After he did not come back and could not be reached by phone, his relatives filed a missing person report with the police. Security forces then began searching for him in and around the area.
A day after the missing report was filed, authorities received a tip that a body had been seen in Mavi Göl, located in Mamak. Teams were dispatched to the scene, and gendarmerie units pulled the body from the water. Subsequent identification confirmed that the deceased was Serdar Özkanatoğlu.
It was learned that before disappearing, Özkanatoğlu sent a message to his wife saying “Hakkınızı helal edin” – a phrase in Turkish that can be translated roughly as “Please forgive me” or “Give me your blessing.” This message has been included in the case file as investigators work to establish the exact sequence of events leading up to his death.
Following the recovery of the body, Özkanatoğlu’s remains were taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. While the body was at the institute, authorities announced that a formal investigation into the incident had been launched. Findings from the autopsy are expected to clarify whether there was any criminal involvement, a medical episode, or another factor behind the tragedy.
After the autopsy procedures were completed, the body was released to the family. The funeral ceremony took place at Mamak Ortaköy Mosque, where Özkanatoğlu’s relatives, friends, and colleagues gathered to pay their last respects. The event drew significant attention within CHP circles.
CHP Chair Özgür Özel attended the funeral, standing alongside Özkanatoğlu’s family and party members. Many CHP staff and local supporters were present, underlining that the deceased was well known within the party organization due to his earlier advisory role to Ankara MP Umut Akdoğan. Prayers were held at midday before the cortege moved to the nearby cemetery.
Following the funeral prayer, Serdar Özkanatoğlu was laid to rest at Ortaköy Cemetery in Mamak. Emotional scenes were reported as family members and friends bid farewell at the graveside. The burial marked the final step in the formal farewell, while the judicial process regarding his death continues.
In parallel news from the same period, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that security forces seized a total of 348 kilograms of narcotics in an operation. The haul reportedly included 332 kilograms of skunk and 16 kilograms of methamphetamine. Authorities highlighted this as part of ongoing efforts against organized drug trafficking nationwide. Although unrelated to Özkanatoğlu’s case, the announcement underscored the scale of law enforcement activity in the country.
Investigation and legal process
In deaths discovered in public areas such as lakes and parks, Turkish authorities routinely initiate a comprehensive investigation. In Özkanatoğlu’s case, the gendarmerie and police teams first secured the scene around Mavi Göl, recording visual evidence and interviewing any potential witnesses who might have seen him in the area before the incident.
The autopsy conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institute is a crucial step in cases like this. Specialists examine whether there are any signs of external trauma, intoxication, or underlying medical conditions. Toxicology tests are often performed to determine if any substances were present in the bloodstream. Only after these stages can investigators move from preliminary assumptions to more concrete conclusions about how the death occurred.
If the autopsy and on-scene analysis show no evidence of third-party involvement, the file may be processed as a death with no criminal suspicion. If anything unusual is detected — such as injuries inconsistent with drowning or indications of a struggle — the case can escalate into a full-scale criminal investigation, with broader interviews, phone record checks, and detailed analysis of the victim’s recent movements.
Political and social impact
The loss of a former advisor to a sitting MP has naturally resonated in political circles. Parliamentary advisors are often close to legislators, working on legislative proposals, constituency relations, and political communication. Özkanatoğlu’s previous role with CHP Ankara MP Umut Akdoğan meant he was part of the inner workings of political life in the capital, even if he later stepped away from that position.
The attendance of CHP Chair Özgür Özel and other senior party members at the funeral signals both institutional respect and personal solidarity with the family. Public appearances of party leaders at such ceremonies often carry a dual meaning: honoring the individual and conveying a message of unity and compassion to the broader public.
Incidents involving figures connected to political life can also raise questions about the pressures associated with public service and the demanding nature of political work. Around the world, advisors and staffers frequently operate under tight deadlines, intense public scrutiny, and high expectations. While the specific reasons behind Özkanatoğlu’s death remain under investigation, the case has once again put a spotlight on the human side of politics, beyond slogans and speeches.
The significance of farewell messages
One of the most striking elements of this case is the message reportedly sent by Özkanatoğlu to his wife: “Hakkınızı helal edin.” In Turkish culture, this phrase carries deep religious and emotional weight. It can be used in everyday life as a polite expression, but in the context of a disappearance or a later-discovered death, it is usually interpreted as a farewell, loaded with remorse, apology, and a request for spiritual clearance.
Such messages are often examined closely by investigators, both as potential indicators of the person’s emotional state and as part of the chronological record of what happened. For families, they can become a painful but important last point of contact, shaping how the loss is processed emotionally and spiritually.
At the same time, professionals in mental health and crisis intervention emphasize that farewell messages, while significant, should not be oversimplified. They can reflect a moment of intense distress rather than a long-term, considered plan. That is why experts consistently stress the importance of early intervention and support when people show signs of withdrawal, despair, or speak in ways that suggest they feel they are a burden to others.
Mavi Göl and public safety
Mavi Göl, located in Ankara’s Mamak district, is a known recreational area, drawing visitors for walks, picnics, and outdoor activities. Incidents in such public locations can raise wider concerns about safety measures, surveillance, and emergency response.
In recent years, local administrations have increasingly focused on installing camera systems, improving lighting, and ensuring that search-and-rescue units can access lakeshores and green spaces quickly. When a body is discovered in a lake, first responders must move rapidly but carefully, balancing the need to preserve evidence with efforts to recover the person.
Events like this also tend to prompt debates about whether more psychological support services, hotlines, or outreach programs should be visible and accessible in busy public areas. Posters, information boards, and training for municipal staff and security personnel can all play a role in recognizing and responding to people in visible distress.
Emotional impact on families and colleagues
Sudden deaths, especially under unclear or tragic circumstances, leave families facing not only grief but also unanswered questions. For Özkanatoğlu’s relatives, the period from his disappearance to the discovery of his body would have been marked by anxiety, uncertainty, and hope that he might yet return home. The confirmation of his death, followed by the autopsy and funeral, transforms that uncertainty into mourning.
Colleagues and former co-workers within CHP and the broader political community may also experience shock. Advisors often build long-term relationships within parties, and news of a former colleague’s death can reopen conversations about stress, isolation, and work-life balance.
Psychologists note that in such cases, collective rituals like funerals and memorial gatherings play a key role in helping communities process loss. Hearing speeches, sharing memories, and participating in religious or cultural rites can reinforce social bonds and reduce the sense of isolation for those most affected.
Mental health, crisis signals, and support
While the specific personal and psychological circumstances around Özkanatoğlu’s death remain known only to him and those closest to him, the case highlights broader questions that transcend a single incident. Around the world, many people go through periods of severe emotional strain, sometimes connected to family tensions, work pressure, economic difficulties, or personal loss.
Professionals emphasize that certain signs can indicate that a person is in crisis: withdrawing from social life, speaking frequently about hopelessness, expressing that others would be “better off” without them, giving away possessions, or sending farewell-like messages. None of these are definitive on their own, but together they may signal that someone needs urgent support.
Experts recommend that, when such signs appear, relatives and friends try to maintain open communication, avoid judgment, and encourage the person to seek professional help. In many countries, there are emergency hotlines, mental health services, and non-profit organizations specifically dedicated to offering immediate emotional support and guidance. Even simple steps like accompanying someone to a doctor’s appointment or helping them schedule a counseling session can be very meaningful.
The role of media in reporting sensitive cases
Coverage of deaths under investigation, particularly those that may involve self-harm, places a serious responsibility on journalists and editors. Ethical reporting standards advise against sensationalism, against providing explicit detail about methods, and against romanticizing or normalizing such deaths.
Instead, media organizations are encouraged to focus on verified facts, respect the privacy and dignity of the deceased and their relatives, and, where appropriate, include information that highlights the availability of support for people in distress. Avoiding speculative language and clearly distinguishing between confirmed information and ongoing investigation is central to responsible reporting.
In the case of Serdar Özkanatoğlu, the emphasis on the investigation process, the autopsy, and the reactions at the funeral aligns with this approach, keeping the focus on public interest and institutional response while preserving personal dignity.
Broader context: public trust and institutions
Events involving current or former figures from the political sphere often influence how citizens perceive public institutions. Transparent communication about the progress of investigations, including the announcement that an autopsy has been conducted and that a formal inquiry is underway, can help sustain public trust.
Likewise, the clear separation between independent news events — such as the announcement by the Interior Minister about a major narcotics seizure — and individual tragedy is important. Both are significant in their own right: one highlighting law enforcement’s efforts to combat organized crime, the other drawing attention to human vulnerability in the midst of political and social life.
As the investigation into Özkanatoğlu’s death proceeds, official findings on the cause and circumstances will be key in bringing clarity for both the family and the public, while his funeral and burial have already given his loved ones a moment of collective farewell and remembrance.