Lawyers explain mechanism for searching for missing athlete Tsomartova abroad

If Anna Tsomartova fails to declare that she has become a crime victim, the police in other countries can only notify Russia of her location, but not detain her.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the search for the athlete from North Ossetia, Anna Tsomartova, has been ongoing since February 12, 2024. According to her mother, investigators opened a murder case, but the abduction version is also being considered. Investigators are interested in a photo taken in the UAE of a girl who looks like Anna. On March 24, it became known that Tsomartova was put on the international wanted list, as an examination has confirmed her similarity with the girl filmed in Dubai.

An international advocate has confirmed that if the girl is not a crime victim, she will simply be questioned. "She will be questioned, and since she is an adult, the police have no right to do anything more. And if it turns out that she left voluntarily, they will simply inform Russia," he said.

The advocate has also noted that when abduction cases are initiated, relatives are usually recognized as the suffered party, and since the fundamental right to life has been violated, they must be familiarized with the case materials. "But, unfortunately, this happens quite rarely in Russia," he has stated.