A dissident Belarusian sports official who went missing in Turkey is believed to have traveled to Sochi in Russia, DW can reveal. The 45-year-old Kotau's political activism saw him sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia in July 2024, on charges including "conspiracy to seize power" and "promoting extremist activities." "Anatol was responsible for strong actions against Lukashenko's regime," Pavel Latushka, a prominent Belarusian opposition politician, told DW. He's a great defender of athletes' rights and a real political figure on the Belarusian political stage." DW has reached out to the Belarusian authorities for comment on the case.