An investigation by Deutsche Welle, together with partners, examines the disappearance of Belarusian exile and former sports official Anatol Kotau. According to reported findings, Kotau was last seen in 2025 after boarding a private yacht in Turkey. The investigation traces his travel from Turkey into areas of the Black Sea described as Russia-controlled “gray zone” waters. The reports indicate that these areas are outside full public control and complicate efforts to establish what happened during the transit. The investigation focuses on the route and circumstances surrounding Kotau’s movement from the point of departure toward the area where he later vanished. The sources describe the case as raising questions about the risks faced by exiles in the region and the challenges of confirming events in contested maritime spaces. The reporting does not present a definitive explanation for his disappearance, but details the timeline and geographies relevant to the case as investigated by the outlets involved.