How a Belarusian exile vanished in waters held by Russia

high · Deutsche Welle · 18 Jun 2026 · 07:02 UTC · Authoritarian Governance · 1 min read

Summary

Documented case of a political exile's apparent extrajudicial disappearance in contested waters controlled by an authoritarian state, exemplifying transnational authoritarian reach and potential state abduction tactics.

Former sports official Anatol Kotau was last seen boarding a private yacht in Turkey in 2025. DW and its partners investigated his journey to and disappearance in Russia-controlled "gray zone" waters in the Black Sea.

political exile forced disappearance extrajudicial action authoritarian repression transnational oppression

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How a Belarusian exile vanished in waters held by Russia

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