Turkish Man Drowns in Arax River While Illegally Crossing from Turkey into Armenia

A fatal incident has taken place at the border between Turkey and Armenia. A 28-year-old man from Turkey, Ismail Adir, died while trying to cross the closed Turkish-Armenian border. He was swept away by the Arax River, which separates the two countries.

According to Turkish news sources, Adir was not alone. He had three friends with him when they attempted to cross into Armenia illegally. The group made their way to the border in the Turkish province of Igdir (Western Armenia), a region that lies near Armenia. During their dangerous journey, Adir fell into the river and disappeared.

His friends, shocked and unable to help, quickly contacted Turkish law enforcement for help. A search and rescue operation began immediately. Turkish authorities and emergency teams rushed to the scene and began looking for the missing man along the riverbank.

After hours of searching, the lifeless body of Ismail Adir was found in the Arax River, on the Turkish side. His death is now the subject of an ongoing investigation.

This heartbreaking incident is another reminder of the decades-long closed border between Armenia and Turkey. The land border between the two neighboring countries has been shut since 1993, after Turkey closed it in response to the war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and to support Azerbaijan. 

While Armenian and Turkish officials have talked in recent years about “normalization” and reopening the border, little progress has been made. Political tensions, especially Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and its close alliance with Azerbaijan, remain serious roadblocks.

To support independent Armenian journalism, consider subscribing to The Armenian Report. Thank you in advance for your support.