Cyprus Times

Decapitated Body of Missing Russian Swimmer Found in Turkey

Published January 24, 2026, 19:06
Decapitated Body of Missing Russian Swimmer Found in Turkey

The body of 29-year-old Russian swimmer Nikolai Svetchnikov, who had been missing since August after participating in the annual swimming race across the Bosphorus, has been found in Turkey. Identification was made through DNA testing. The body was discovered in a state of decomposition, decapitated and without limbs, while wearing swimming trunks. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death, examining security footage and data from his timing chip. Svetchnikov's family has taken legal action, seeking compensation from the organizers, alleging negligence in the event's organization. The Bosphorus race is a four-mile swim between Asia and Europe, with the participation of thousands of athletes.