Cyprus on alert amid disappearance of Russian tycoon, diplomat death

Cyprus is grappling with a high-profile double mystery following the disappearance of Russian businessman Vladislav Baumgertner and the subsequent death of a Russian diplomat, an incident that has added fuel to the island nation’s concerns over black money allegations exposed in a viral social media video.

The chain of events began on January 7, when Baumgertner, 56, the former CEO of potash giant Uralkali and a figure previously involved in a 2013 diplomatic standoff in Belarus, went missing after leaving his Limassol residence, Caliber.Az reports, citing Greek media.

Authorities launched a large-scale search operation, deploying drones and helicopters to comb the rugged cliffs of Pissouri, where his mobile phone was last detected. However, severe winter storms have temporarily halted the search, leaving his whereabouts unknown.

The situation escalated less than 24 hours later. On January 8, a senior official at the Russian Embassy in Nicosia was found dead inside embassy grounds. Embassy sources initially cited natural causes, but the timing—coinciding with the search for Baumgertner—has prompted intense speculation, with some suggesting a potential “cleanup” or a deliberate signal to Cypriot authorities.

These incidents coincide with a wave of disinformation that Cyprus officials describe as a “hybrid attack.” During celebrations marking Cyprus’ EU Presidency, which were attended by global leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an 8-minute video circulated on the platform X, allegedly produced by Russian disinformation networks. The clip blends real footage with suspected AI deepfakes to accuse the President’s inner circle of managing “black money” ahead of the 2028 elections.

In response, the Cypriot government has formally requested forensic assistance from the FBI and European intelligence agencies to investigate the digital and physical dimensions of the unfolding crises.

By Vafa Guliyeva