How a Belarusian exile vanished in waters held by Russia

Live updates

1. -3967s ago

   Status of Belarusian Exile Anatol Kotau Remains Unchanged

   Anatol Kotau disappeared in August 2025 after boarding a yacht in Turkey. A joint investigation indicates Russian forces took him in the Black Sea. He was reportedly moved to the Abkhazian coast and handed to Russian border guards.

   confidence 100%
2. 34d ago

   Investigation Traces Anatol Kotau's Disappearance to Abkhazia

   Anatol Kotau vanished in August 2025 after boarding a yacht in Turkey. A joint investigation suggests he was taken by Russian forces in the Black Sea. Reports indicate he was transported to the Abkhazian coast and delivered to Russian border guards.

   What's confirmed:

   • Anatol Kotau vanished in August 2025 after boarding a yacht in Turkey.
   • A joint investigation by Deutsche Welle, OCCRP, and the Belarusian Investigative Center identifies Russian FSB involvement in his disappearance.
   • Kotau was likely taken by Russian forces in the Black Sea.
   • Kotau was an employee of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The yacht changed course toward Abkhazia.
   • Kotau was taken by yacht to the coast of Abkhazia and handed over to Russian border guards.
   • The operation involved ties to former security officials and arms dealers.
   confidence 85%
3. 38d ago

   Investigation Links Russian FSB to Disappearance of Belarusian Exile Anatol Kotau

   Former Belarusian official Anatol Kotau vanished in August 2025 after boarding a yacht in Turkey. A joint investigation by Deutsche Welle, OCCRP, and the Belarusian Investigative Center identifies Russian FSB involvement in his disappearance. Kotau had previously resigned from the presidential administration in 2020 to oppose violence against protesters.

   What's confirmed:

   • Anatol Kotau disappeared in August 2025 after traveling to Turkey.
   • Kotau was a former Belarusian official and diplomat who lived in exile in Poland.
   • Kotau resigned from the Belarusian presidential administration in 2020 to condemn violence against protesters.
   • Kotau boarded a private yacht in Turkey before vanishing in the Black Sea.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) kidnapped Kotau from a yacht.
   • Kotau arrived in Istanbul at 1:49 p.m. and flew to Trabzon before leaving Turkish waters on a vessel at 6:35 p.m.
   • The Belarusian government may have organized the abduction.
   confidence 80%