“Mrs. Russia – Universe” model murder suspect detained in Türkiye

Turkish police have detained a Russian national wanted in Russia in connection with the murder of model and “Mrs. Russia – Universe” pageant participant Natalia Bozhuk, Russian Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said.

“The Russian national accused of murdering a model and participant in the ‘Mrs. Russia – Universe’ pageant was detained in a foreign country. This became possible thanks to cooperation between officers of the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Main Directorate of the Russian Interior Ministry for the Moscow Region and their colleagues in Türkiye,” Volk wrote on the MAX platform.

The murder was committed in July in the Odintsovo urban district of the Moscow Region. Bozhuk, 39, a former participant in the 2017 “Mrs. Russia – Universe” pageant, stopped responding to calls on July 17, reportedly following a dispute with her cohabiting partner while they were walking their dog in the Odintsovo district.

According to the Russian Interior Ministry, the couple argued, after which the man inflicted several wounds on Bozhuk. She died, while the suspect allegedly attempted to conceal traces of the crime before flying from Vnukovo Airport to Türkiye and then travelling on to another country.

Bozhuk’s body was found shortly afterwards, and a criminal case on murder charges was opened.

Investigators from the Main Directorate of the Russian Interior Ministry for the Moscow Region sent an urgent request to Turkish authorities through Interpol channels. The information obtained from their Turkish counterparts subsequently allowed Russian investigators to establish the suspect’s further route.

By Tamilla Hasanova