Russian climber stranded on Kyrgyzstani mountain declared missing after authorities abandoned rescue operation
Russian mountain climber Natalia Nagovitsina, who has been stranded for more than two weeks on Kyrgyzstan’s Pobeda Peak, has officially been declared missing, according to the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry and Russian state media.
Agency spokesperson Adil Charygov said the designation was made “because no one can officially confirm whether she is alive or dead.”
Nagovitsina, 47, broke her leg while descending the peak on August 12. Other climbers and Kyrgyzstani authorities made several rescue attempts, but evacuation was impossible due to severe weather. On August 23, the ministry suspended the operation.
On August 26, Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin instructed his agency’s central office to contact the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry and “take all necessary measures” to rescue Nagovitsina. The same day, Nagovitsina’s son made a post on social media pleading with the Russian and Kyrgyzstani authorities to save his mother, whom he believes is still alive.
