The search for Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov, who vanished while attempting to cross the Bosphorus, concluded without success. On October 8, Alexey Ivanov, Charge d’affaires of the Russian Federation in Turkey, confirmed the failure of efforts to locate the athlete. “It is with great regret that we must state the search for Nikolai Svechnikov was unsuccessful,” Ivanov said in a statement to RIA Novosti. He added that the Russian side continues to support the swimmer’s family and maintains communication with local authorities regarding the case.
Svechnikov disappeared on August 24 during a competitive swim across the Bosphorus in Istanbul. A professional athlete, he did not reach the finish line after swimming approximately 500–600 meters. Honored Master of Sports and world record holder Nikolai Skvortsov speculated that Svechnikov may have been swept away by strong currents.
The swimmer’s mother accused organizers of concealing details about his disappearance, noting no recordings were released despite widespread media coverage. Earlier, she reported that search efforts had expanded to the Marmara Sea, with the Red Cross joining the operation. Svechnikov’s wife also criticized the event organizers for their role in his vanishing. Over 3,000 participants took part in the competition, but Svechnikov was the only one who did not complete the course.
