Body Found in Cyprus: The Mysterious Disappearance of Ex-Uralkali Chief

The Mysterious Disappearance of Vladislav Baumgertner

The enigmatic disappearance of Vladislav Baumgertner, the former head of Uralkali, has taken a troubling turn. After a week of intense media coverage and social media speculation, a body was discovered in the area where active searches for the Russian businessman were conducted. While there is no official confirmation of the identity yet, the circumstances of the discovery suggest a grim outcome.

The Disappearance

The disappearance of 56-year-old Vladislav Baumgertner came to light in early January. According to police reports, he left his home in Limassol and has not been in contact since. He was last seen wearing black shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt. Shortly after, his mobile phone signal was traced to the vicinity of Pissouri village on the southern coast of Cyprus, but the signal was lost soon after.

The Search Efforts

Initial alarm was raised by Baumgertner’s assistant, who reported that he had stopped responding to messages and calls on January 7. By January 10, police, rescue services, and volunteers had joined the search. The terrain was thoroughly combed, but the challenging landscape and adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains, temporarily halted the operation. The search resumed later.

The Discovery

On January 14, the situation changed dramatically. Local residents spotted a man’s body in a hard-to-reach coastal area between the villages of Pissouri and Avdimou. Police and medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene. According to Cypriot media, the remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, complicating the identification process.

Some sources claim that the body has already been identified as Vladislav Baumgertner. However, other media outlets emphasize that it is too early to draw final conclusions, as forensic examinations and additional procedures are still pending. This information was confirmed by a close acquaintance of the businessman, Alexey Dozortsev, who told journalists that there is no official confirmation of the identity of the found man, and everyone is awaiting the results of the examinations.

Investigation and Complications

As reported by the Telegram channel Baza, the body was found in the area where search teams had concentrated their efforts in recent days. However, the police have not yet officially stated that the remains belong to the former head of Uralkali.

Cypriot law enforcement agencies reported that a local resident found the body near Avdimou beach, east of the area where active searches were previously conducted near Aspro Cape. A source also explained that a pathological examination has been scheduled to establish the identity of the deceased, to be conducted by a coroner in a morgue under the administration of the British military bases.

The case is complicated by the fact that the location where the remains were found falls under the jurisdiction of the British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, near the border of the Limassol province of Cyprus. In connection with this, the head of the expert service of this overseas territory of Great Britain and the chief of police of Limassol arrived at the scene. The area was cordoned off, and access was restricted.

Search and Rescue Operations

The Cypriot press reminds us that the main area of search and rescue operations was Aspro Cape near the village of Pissouri, a site with extremely rugged and dangerous terrain. It was from there, according to police data, that the last signal from Baumgertner’s mobile phone was received. The media also suggested that the businessman could have reached this area by taxi from his home in Limassol.

Possible Scenarios

After the disappearance, various versions of what happened began to emerge. It is known that Vladislav Baumgertner was fond of rock climbing and could have gone to the mountainous area alone. In this regard, the version of an accident, a possible fall or injury, is being considered. At the same time, the police do not exclude other scenarios, emphasizing that final conclusions will be made only after the completion of all investigative and expert activities. It is separately emphasized that due to the influence of the environment, the body was in a state of severe decomposition, so immediate identification is impossible. This significantly complicates the investigation and requires time.

Diplomatic Involvement

The Russian Embassy in Cyprus reported that the diplomatic mission is in constant contact with local authorities. The diplomatic mission confirmed that Cypriot law enforcement agencies informed the Russian side about the procedure for identifying the found body and the ongoing investigation.

Background

Vladislav Baumgertner headed Uralkali from 2005 to 2011. He gained widespread recognition in 2013 after a high-profile arrest in Belarus on charges of abuse of power. Later, the businessman was handed over to the Russian authorities, and the criminal case was terminated due to the absence of a crime.