High-security inmate in Cyprus caught recording YouTube podcast from prison cell

A significant security breach has been identified at the Central Prison of Cyprus, where Taner Tolga Tarlacı, an inmate held in the high-security Wing 10, participated in a YouTube podcast from inside his cell. Tarlacı, a former participant in the reality show Survivor, is currently serving a 10-year sentence handed down in 2023 for crimes committed in 2022, including rape, deprivation of liberty for sexual abuse, and threats of violence against a 35-year-old woman.

The interviews were uploaded to a journalist's YouTube channel on August 14 and 15, 2026, gaining widespread international attention, particularly in Turkish media. During the recordings, Tarlacı alleged that he is a victim of racism and abuse by prison guards and other inmates, while claiming to have been in contact with figures such as Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and calling for intervention from them and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The prison administration only became aware of the videos long after they had been posted and viewed thousands of times.

This incident has renewed scrutiny over the management and security protocols at the Central Prison, specifically regarding the illicit use of mobile phones by inmates. The authorities are now facing criticism for failing to prevent such activities within a high-security facility.