Turkish Prosecutor Wants a Foreigner’s Statement From Abroad: How Does International Legal Assistance Work? (2026 Updated Guide)

A Turkish prosecutor wants to take a foreign national’s statement while the person is abroad. Learn how international legal assistance, consular channels, video testimony, summons, defense rights and criminal procedure may work in Turkey.

A foreign national who is outside Turkey may discover that a Turkish public prosecutor wants to obtain their statement in connection with a criminal investigation. This does not necessarily mean that the person must immediately travel to Turkey. Depending on the person’s procedural status, country of residence, applicable international agreements and the nature of the investigation, Turkish authorities may potentially seek assistance from foreign judicial authorities or use another legally available procedure.

The most important issue is to determine whether the foreign national is being questioned as a suspect, defendant, victim or witness and whether there is already a summons, apprehension order, arrest warrant or travel-related measure connected with the investigation. A person should not assume that remaining abroad makes the Turkish investigation irrelevant.

Can a Turkish Prosecutor Take a Foreigner’s Statement While They Are Abroad?

Potentially, yes. International criminal proceedings frequently require evidence or statements to be obtained from individuals located outside the investigating state.

Turkish authorities may seek international judicial cooperation where the requested procedural act cannot conveniently be performed directly in Turkey.

The exact mechanism depends on the country involved, applicable treaty framework, domestic legislation and nature of the requested act.

What Is International Legal Assistance?

International legal assistance in criminal matters allows authorities in one country to request assistance from authorities in another country for specified investigative or judicial acts.

Depending on the case, assistance may concern taking statements, obtaining testimony, serving judicial documents, collecting evidence or carrying out other procedural measures permitted by the applicable framework.

It should be distinguished from extradition.

International Legal Assistance Is Not the Same as Extradition

A request asking another country to obtain someone’s statement does not automatically mean Turkey is requesting that person’s surrender.

Extradition concerns transferring a wanted person from one state to another for prosecution or enforcement of a criminal judgment. Mutual legal assistance generally concerns obtaining evidence or performing procedural acts across borders.

The distinction is critical.

First Determine the Person’s Procedural Status

Before responding, determine whether the person is identified as:

a suspect,

a defendant,

a witness,

a complainant,

a victim,

or another participant in the investigation.

The rights and risks can differ substantially.

Is the Foreigner a Suspect?

If the person is a suspect, the statement can directly affect potential criminal liability.

The individual should therefore understand the accusation and obtain legal advice concerning Turkish criminal procedure before providing a substantive statement.

Is the Person Merely a Witness?

Witness testimony is governed by different principles from suspect questioning. A person should not provide a statement as a witness if the questions may effectively expose them to criminal liability without first understanding their procedural position.

Obtain the Investigation File Information

The foreign national should determine, to the extent legally accessible, the investigation number, prosecutor’s office, alleged offense and procedural status.

Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya can evaluate these issues by examining the available Turkish criminal investigation records and procedural decisions before the foreign national decides how to respond.

Does the Foreigner Have to Travel to Turkey?

Not necessarily in every case.

Depending on the circumstances, the statement may potentially be obtained through international legal assistance or another legally available procedure. However, the existence of such mechanisms does not mean that every Turkish prosecutor must accept a remote statement instead of personal appearance.

The specific investigation must be examined.

Can the Statement Be Taken by Authorities in the Foreigner’s Country?

Potentially. Turkish judicial authorities may request assistance from the competent authorities of the country where the person is located.

The foreign authority would then handle the request according to the applicable international and domestic procedural framework.

Can Video Conference Be Used?

Remote participation or audiovisual methods may potentially be relevant depending on the legal basis, country involved and procedural circumstances.

A foreign national should not assume that an ordinary private video call with the prosecutor is legally equivalent to a formal criminal statement.

Can a Turkish Consulate Take the Statement?

Consular involvement depends on the applicable legal framework and nature of the requested procedural act. A consulate should not automatically be assumed to have authority to perform every investigative act requested by a prosecutor.

The actual request and competent channel should be confirmed.

Can a Lawyer Give the Statement Instead of the Foreigner?

Generally, a lawyer can represent and assist the client in many procedural matters, submit petitions and communicate with authorities, but a lawyer’s explanation is not automatically a substitute for a personal suspect statement where the authorities require the person’s own testimony.

Nevertheless, counsel can often address procedural issues before any statement is given.

The Foreigner Should Not Send an Informal Written Confession

A person who receives an email, telephone call or message concerning an investigation should avoid immediately sending a lengthy explanation directly to investigators without understanding the case.

An apparently innocent explanation can contain factual admissions that later become important evidence.

Right to Counsel Is Critical

A foreign suspect should understand the right to legal assistance before providing a statement.

Legal representation becomes especially important where the person is abroad because misunderstandings concerning summons, international requests and future travel to Turkey can have serious consequences.

Right to Remain Silent

A suspect’s procedural rights include protection against being compelled to incriminate themselves.

Whether and how a statement should be given is a strategic decision that should be made after understanding the allegations and available evidence.

Interpreter Rights Must Be Protected

If the foreign national does not understand Turkish sufficiently for criminal proceedings, interpretation becomes essential.

The person should understand the questions and ensure that the official record accurately reflects their answers.

Never Sign a Statement You Do Not Understand

If a statement is reduced to writing in Turkish, the foreign national should verify the translation before signing.

Errors involving dates, amounts, names, intent or admissions can materially alter the meaning of a statement.

What If the Translation Is Incorrect?

Translation problems should be raised immediately. The person should request correction of material inaccuracies and avoid approving a record that does not accurately reflect what was said.

If an inaccurate statement has already entered the Turkish investigation file, available procedural objections and corrective submissions should be evaluated.

Can a Written Defense Be Submitted From Abroad?

Depending on the procedural stage and purpose, counsel may be able to submit petitions and documentary evidence explaining the foreign national’s position.

A written submission, however, should not automatically be treated as a replacement for a formally required statement.

Can Documents Be Sent to the Turkish Prosecutor?

Potentially. Documents may be submitted through appropriate procedural channels.

Relevant materials might include contracts, correspondence, bank records, travel records, corporate documents, photographs or other evidence capable of addressing the allegation.

The evidence should be organized strategically rather than submitted as an uncontrolled mass of documents.

Electronic Evidence Should Be Preserved

Where the accusation involves emails, WhatsApp communications, social media, financial transactions or online activity, preserve the original electronic evidence.

Screenshots alone may not always provide the complete context necessary for an effective defense.

Does Being Abroad Stop the Turkish Investigation?

No.

A criminal investigation can continue while the suspect is outside Turkey. Prosecutors may collect other evidence, question witnesses, obtain expert reports and take procedural measures without waiting indefinitely for the foreign national to return.

Can the Prosecutor Issue an Apprehension Order?

Depending on the allegations, procedural history and applicable requirements, authorities may seek measures to secure the person’s participation.

A foreign national should therefore determine whether the file contains an apprehension or arrest-related decision before travelling to Turkey.

Can the Foreigner Be Detained at a Turkish Airport?

Potentially, if an enforceable apprehension or arrest measure exists.

This is why a person who knows that a Turkish prosecutor is seeking their statement should not simply purchase a ticket and arrive in Turkey without understanding the file status.

Does a Request for a Statement Mean There Is an Arrest Warrant?

No.

A request for a statement does not by itself establish that an arrest warrant exists. These are separate procedural matters.

The actual investigation records should be checked.

Can Turkey Request an INTERPOL Notice?

International police cooperation and international legal assistance are different mechanisms.

Not every criminal investigation or unanswered summons results in an INTERPOL notice. The seriousness of the allegation, applicable legal requirements and decisions taken in the individual case matter.

Can Ignoring the Request Create Problems?

Potentially.

Ignoring official judicial communications may result in further procedural steps, particularly if authorities need the person’s presence to continue the investigation.

The better approach is usually to determine the legal status of the request and respond strategically.

Verify Whether the Request Is Genuine

Foreign nationals should be cautious about telephone calls, emails or messages claiming that a Turkish prosecutor is seeking them.

Fraudsters sometimes impersonate police, prosecutors or other authorities.

The investigation should be verified through legitimate procedural channels before personal information or money is provided.

Never Pay Someone Claiming They Can “Cancel” a Criminal File

A prosecutor’s investigation cannot legitimately be erased simply because someone privately demands money.

Requests for payment supposedly to cancel an arrest warrant or prevent prosecution should be treated with extreme caution.

What If the Foreigner Has Never Been to Turkey?

Turkish criminal jurisdiction can raise complex questions where conduct occurs partly or entirely abroad.

The location of the person does not alone determine whether Turkish criminal authorities may investigate. Jurisdiction should be assessed according to the alleged offense and connection with Turkey.

What If the Alleged Crime Was Committed Online?

Cybercrime, online fraud, threats, financial offenses and digital communications frequently involve several countries.

The investigation may concern where the victim, account, server, transaction or consequences were located.

International Bank Transfers Can Trigger Turkish Investigations

A foreign national may become involved in a Turkish criminal investigation because money was transferred to or from a Turkish bank account.

Banking evidence should be analyzed together with contracts, communications and the commercial purpose of the transaction.

Foreign Company Managers Can Also Be Asked for Statements

Directors, shareholders and employees of foreign companies may be questioned in connection with fraud, customs, financial, commercial or corporate investigations.

Corporate title alone does not establish personal criminal liability. The prosecutor must examine the individual’s own conduct and connection with the alleged offense.

What If the Foreigner Is Innocent but Afraid to Travel?

The appropriate response is not necessarily to ignore the investigation.

The file should first be reviewed to understand the accusation, evidence, procedural status and any coercive measures. Counsel can then evaluate how the person’s defense can be presented and whether international legal assistance or another procedural mechanism may be appropriate.

Can Evidence Be Submitted Before the Statement?

Depending on the circumstances, defense counsel may submit relevant evidence or procedural requests before the foreign national is questioned.

This can sometimes help clarify mistaken identity, incorrect financial assumptions or other factual misunderstandings.

Mistaken Identity Should Be Addressed Immediately

If authorities have confused the foreign national with another person, preserve passport records, travel records, employment information, photographs and other identifying evidence.

Mistaken-identity problems should not be left unresolved simply because the person currently lives abroad.

What Happens After the Statement Is Taken?

The prosecutor may continue collecting evidence and ultimately decide whether the investigation should proceed toward prosecution or another procedural outcome.

Giving a statement does not itself mean that criminal charges will necessarily be filed.

Can the Foreigner Obtain a Copy of the Statement?

Access to investigation records depends on procedural status and any applicable restrictions. Defense counsel should preserve copies of available statements and submissions so later discrepancies can be identified.

Confidentiality or File Restrictions May Apply

Some investigations may contain restrictions affecting access to parts of the file.

The existence and scope of any restriction should be checked rather than assumed.

International Legal Assistance Can Take Time

Cross-border judicial cooperation may involve transmission between competent authorities, translation and compliance with the requested country’s procedures.

The foreign national should therefore not assume that silence for several weeks means the investigation has ended.

Travel Plans Should Be Reviewed Before Entering Turkey

Before travelling, determine whether there is an active apprehension order, arrest-related decision, travel restriction or another procedural measure affecting the person.

This is particularly important where previous official requests have gone unanswered.

Immediate Action Plan for a Foreigner Abroad

A foreign national who learns that a Turkish prosecutor wants their statement should first verify the investigation, identify their procedural status, determine the alleged offense, check whether any apprehension or arrest measure exists, obtain legal assistance in Turkey, preserve relevant evidence, evaluate whether international judicial assistance or another remote procedure may be available, protect interpreter rights and avoid making informal substantive admissions before understanding the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Turkish prosecutor question a foreigner who lives abroad?

Potentially. International judicial cooperation or other legally available procedures may be used depending on the country, procedural status and investigation.

Must the foreigner return to Turkey to give a statement?

Not necessarily in every case. The available method should be determined from the specific investigation and applicable international cooperation framework.

Can the statement be taken by video conference?

Potentially, where the relevant legal and procedural framework permits it. An informal video call should not be confused with formal judicial testimony.

Can a Turkish embassy or consulate take the statement?

It depends on the legal basis and requested procedural act. Consular authority should not be assumed for every criminal investigation.

Can the foreigner have a lawyer in Turkey?

Yes. Turkish criminal defense counsel can evaluate the investigation, submit appropriate requests and assist in protecting the person’s procedural rights.

Does the foreigner have a right to an interpreter?

A foreign suspect who cannot adequately understand the language of the proceedings should have applicable interpretation rights protected during the criminal process.

Does a request for a statement mean the person will be arrested?

No. A statement request and an arrest-related decision are different matters. The actual file status must be checked.

Can the investigation continue while the foreigner remains abroad?

Yes. Turkish authorities may continue collecting evidence and taking procedural steps.

Should the foreigner ignore the request if they do not plan to visit Turkey?

Ignoring an official request can create additional procedural risks. The investigation should instead be verified and addressed through appropriate legal channels.

What should the foreigner do before travelling to Turkey?

The person should determine the status of the criminal file and whether any apprehension, arrest or other coercive measure has been issued. Travelling without checking the file can create an avoidable risk of detention upon entry.

Client-Focused Legal Support for Foreign Nationals Facing Turkish Criminal Investigations

A request for a statement from abroad can involve international judicial assistance, suspect questioning, interpreter rights, arrest risks, airport detention, international evidence, digital records and cross-border criminal procedure. Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office assists foreign nationals, foreign company managers and international clients who are investigated or requested to provide statements in Turkish criminal proceedings. Lawyer Fırat Fesih Kaya provides legal assistance in examining the procedural status of the investigation, evaluating available methods for providing a statement from abroad, preparing defense submissions, protecting interpreter and defense rights and assessing risks before the foreign national travels to Turkey.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22

Mobile: +90 532 769 22 22

Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr

Address: Mevlana Boulevard No:221, Yıldırım Tower, Office No:148, 06520 Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey