At about 6 p.m. on August 21, 2025, the former Belarusian diplomat and sports official Anatol Kotau boarded a private yacht in northeastern Turkey. He said he would be home in a few days.  

The yacht was officially bound for Russia — one of two countries with a warrant out for his arrest — but it is unclear whether Kotau knew its intended destination. What is known is that three hours into his journey, he stopped responding to messages. 

He never returned home. 

Using information from sources, documents, satellite imagery and leaked databases, DW and its partners, the Belarusian Investigative Center(BIC) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, have determined that Kotau was taken off the yacht by the Russian Coast Guard, a division of the FSB domestic intelligence agency, likely working in cooperation with Belarus. The monthslong investigation found that Kotau may have been lured to his fate by people he knew. 

Kotau was wanted in Belarus

Kotau spent much of his early political career as a diplomat at the Belarusian Embassy in neighboring Poland. In 2015, he was appointed secretary-general of the Belarusian Olympic Committee, serving under Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s longest-ruling autocrat. Kotau was also deputy director of the organizing committee for the 2019 multisport European Games in Minsk, a prestige project for Lukashenko. 

He quit his job as government forces suppressed protests after Lukashenko declared victory in the 2020 presidential election. He fled to Poland, where he registered as a refugee, and, from Warsaw, began pushing for change in Belarus. 

Kotau was an outspoken critic and was widely believed by fellow dissidents to be among those behind the “Nick and Mike” Telegram channel, which exposed the regime’s secrets. He was a key part of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, a movement for athletes that actively lobbied to have Minsk stripped of the honor of co-hosting the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship — in part on the grounds that Lukashenko could use the global spotlight on his favorite sport to rehabilitate his image following the bloody clampdown of 2020. 

“He was a person who worked for many years in the state system,” said Ales Mikhalevich, a Belarusian human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate. “People like me, for example, are simply enemies for the regime, whereas people like him are traitors. And that is much more serious.” 

In 2024, a Belarusian court sentenced Kotau in absentia to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way and promotion of extremist activities. Arrest warrants were issued by the governments of Belarus and Russia.

“Without a doubt,  this was a person the Belarusian authorities wanted to get back — legally or illegally,” Mikhalevich said. 

Kotau’s travel tendencies

Friends said Kotau was often secretive about his travel plans. In April 2025, he traveled to Dubai, where he held at least two meetings. DW and its partners were unable to identify everyone he met on that trip.  

Kotau had another visit to Dubai scheduled for July 2025, one month before he disappeared, but canceled the trip when he developed appendicitis, according to his wife. 

“He usually didn’t say in advance where he was going or why,” Kotau’s friend and fellow opposition activist Ruslan Khazin said. “But we always knew that after he’d gone somewhere to meet someone, there would be some interesting news.” 

Before Kotau disappeared in August, he told his wife that he was traveling to Turkey for business; his boss at a Polish events agency believed that he was going for personal reasons.  

Several people told DW and its partners that, shortly before the trip to Turkey, Kotau indicated to various people that things were about to change in Belarus and that “soon we are all going home.” 

“I just didn’t understand,” Khazin recalled. “I said: ‘What do you mean?’ He has this usual manner — he smiles and says: ‘Well, you’ll find out later.’ That’s it.” 

A fellow Belarusian

After landing in Istanbul on August 21, Kotau flew to the northeastern port city of Trabzon, where the yacht awaited. The boat itself had departed from Istanbul earlier, carrying a small crew, two Russian passengers and Yuryy P., a Belarusian karate judge and instructor with connections to the Belarusian secret service, which still goes by its Soviet initials, KGB.   

Social media photos indicate that Kotau could have met Yuryy P. at the Vozrozhdenie (Renaissance) sport club, which can be linked to the KGB during its four years in existence, from 2017 to 2021, according to information provided by the Belarusian civil society group Rabochy Ruch. 

Yuryy P. was also employed by a company called Tres International, which is headquartered near Dubai but has a representative office in Minsk, according to leaked data from Cyber Partisans, a dissident hacker collective formed after the 2020 election in Belarus. Several people at Tres International were found to be affiliated with the KGB, according to more leaked documents. Yuryy P. did not reply to queries from DW and its partners. 

Many of the company’s employees also work for BTS Global, which is in business and management consulting, according to the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but also sells weapons, according to military documents provided by Rabochy Ruch. Tres International and BTS  Global are both registered at the same address on Smolenskaya Street in Minsk. 

It is not clear whether Kotau and Yuryy P. crossed paths in Trabzon. However, when the yacht left the port city with Kotau on it, Yuryy P. was not on board. 

Details about the yacht Kotau boarded

The last known image of Kotau, 45 at the time, is a CCTV capture of him at the Trabzon port, unshaven and wearing a dark T-shirt. He then would have boarded the 30-meter (100-foot) yacht named Shells, a $2.8 million (€2.4 million) private vessel with two dining areas, a bar and a top-deck jacuzzi.  

According to the passenger manifest, which DW has obtained, the yacht was bound for Sochi, on Russia’s Black Sea coast, although it is unclear whether Kotau knew that. He may have been told a different destination or thought that the ship would enter international waters and then return to Turkey. 

The yacht’s movements are difficult to trace. There is no record of its location in the Marine Traffic database in August 2025 or in satellite imagery over its route. The yacht was last recorded months earlier, in March 2025, in Istanbul. 

The owners on paper in August 2025, MGA Yachting Ltd., insist that they sold it at the end of 2024 and know nothing about Kotau’s disappearance. DW and its partners confirmed that the boat was up for sale in early 2025. 

By January 2026, the boat had been renamed the YS Legacy and registered to SSL Yachting Group Ltd. In March 2026, BTS Global bought the trademark for the same name: YSLegacy. 

A Belarusian businessman, Yuryy S., is listed as the head of two BTS Global companies — the one registered in Belarus and another in the United Kingdom — and lives in the United Arab Emirates, where the yacht last appeared on the Marine Traffic database in March 2026.

He knew Kotau personally. There are photos of the two at the Vozrozhdenie sports club in 2019,  at what appears to be an event connected to the Minsk 2019 European Games. Yuryy S. is identified in leaks as having worked for the KGB’s Operational Analytical Center and at the Belarusian Olympic Committee during Kotau’s tenure as secretary-general. He is connected to the Dubai-based Tres International. He did not reply to queries by DW and its partners, nor did BTS Global or Tres International. 

Kotau’s mysterious shipmates

When Kotau boarded Shells, he was accompanied by a woman named Qahira E., whose nationality is listed as Jordanian in the passenger manifest. Qahira E. lives in Dubai and is originally from Azerbaijan. She and Kotau had known each other since at least 2023, according to information obtained by the BIC. The two had messaged about meeting, and appeared in a cozy photo in what looks like a bar. 

She did not answer questions sent by DW and its partners. 

The other passengers were two Russians who had entered Turkey on the same flight from Moscow on August 5, according to leaked passport data, and traveled on the yacht from Istanbul.  

According to leaked databases, one of the men, Pyotr G., is former military and now works as a private security specialist. DW and its partners gathered little information about the other, Yuriy G., but could confirm that the two men traveled together shortly before and after the yacht trip. Neither man replied to queries by DW and its partners. 

According to the manifest, the only other people on the vessel were the four crew members — none of whom could speak Russian.  

Yacht intercepted off Russia-occupied Abkhazia

DW and its partners have learned from sources and a letter obtained from the Sochi port authorities that the yacht never arrived there.  

Sources familiar with the operation told DW and its partners that the yacht instead headed toward Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia. The government of Georgia — as well as the US, EU and several other governments — considers the region to be occupied by Russia, which maintains a heavy military presence there. 

Abkhazia is a “well-known gray zone,” the Georgian political analyst Mamuka Komakhia said. “There’s a lack of control in Abkhazia from an international point of view.

“Abkhazia is a very good place to do any illegal activity because it’s open sea. You do not need to register anything. If you don’t want to register something, you can do it.” 

There, around 1:30 p.m., in waters where no vessel-tracking signals appear, the yacht was intercepted by Russia’s Coast Guard, a division of the FSB. Sources familiar with the operation say agents boarded the vessel and conducted a search of the yacht, at which point Kotau was removed. 

Although there are no images covering the area at the time when the yacht was likely intercepted, there are images from the nearby port of Ochamchire, a coal transportation hub where Russia has had an FSB base since 2009.  

According to the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, also known as the Rondeli Foundation, the FSB has stationed up to 10 Sobol- and Mangust-class patrol boats at the Ochamchire port. Armed with machine guns and surface-to-air missiles, these vessels are tasked with securing Russia’s coastal borders. 

In satellite images, a boat matching the size and shape of one of these Coast Guard vessels is seen leaving Ochamchire port and turning west toward Sukhumi about one hour before sources said Kotau was removed from the yacht.

“It is quite strange Belarusian opposition activists [would] visit Abkhazia,” Komakhia said. “It is quite clear [that] Abkhazia is in very good and close cooperation with Russian law enforcement. It is definitely not a safe place for such people.” 

Neither the Russian FSB nor the Belarusian KGB replied to requests for comment. 

About an hour after the time sources say Kotau was removed from the yacht on August 22, Pyotr G. and Yuriy G. also disembarked. 

Although it is unclear exactly where and when they got off the yacht, the leaked passport data lists Pyotr G. as crossing the port border in Sukhumi at 2:42 p.m. and Yuriy G. four minutes later. 

The boat returned to Turkey with only Qahira E. and the crew on board. 

Did Russia and Belarus work together?

It would not be without precedent for Belarus, which has limited resources, to ask its primary ally for help securing Kotau’s return. 

“Belarusian intelligence is not so well-developed, it’s not so skilled,” said Kamil Klysinski, a senior fellow at the Center for Eastern Studies in Poland. “They don’t have so many people, money [or] other assets to do such operations out of the region.”  

Belarusian and Russian security agencies cooperate closely on intelligence sharing, border security and joint operations — including handing over political opponents. 

“In case of more ambitious operations, as with Kotau, of course Russian support was needed, at least the support of FSB,” Klysinski said.

What authorities have said about Kotau’s disappearance

Kotau’s family and friends have sought answers for nearly 10 months. 

Turkish authorities replied to DW, saying only that Kotau arrived in and left the country on August 21, 2025, and did not respond to questions about an investigation. The Polish authorities said they were not investigating Kotau’s disappearance. 

“If the crime was committed in Poland, then the Polish prosecutor’s office would have jurisdiction,” a spokesperson wrote in an email. 

Mikhalevich disagrees with that assessment: “The crime connected with his disappearance began on Polish territory.” 

“The state system works the way it works,” Mikhalevich said. “No prosecutor, no civil servant, wants additional work. If there was the political will, initiating a criminal case on the disappearance of Anatol Kotau would be quite easy.”  

For his part, Kotau’s friend Khazin says he thinks Kotau is still alive. 

“If they wanted to eliminate him, it would have been much easier to do it here, in Warsaw, and stage an accident,” Khazin said. “The circumstances of his disappearance and those who could have carried out this operation … speaks to the fact that the forces who captured him needed him alive and well.” 

Additional research by: Halil Taskin
Edited by: Carolyn Thompson
Copyedited by: Milan Gagnon
Fact-checked by: Esther Felden
Legal consultation: Florian Wagenknecht

The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 has counter-drone technology deployed at all matches held in the United States, according to Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House World Cup Task Force, ABC News reported.

Notably, the move comes in the wake of an alleged drone attack plot targeting the UFC 250 event at the White House, with FIFA World Cup matches across the United States also identified as potential targets by law enforcement sources.

Giuliani said all 78 World Cup matches in the United States, along with fan festivals in every host city, will be protected by counter-drone systems throughout the tournament.

“All 78 of the matches in the United States of America have counter-drone mitigation protection, and every fan fest, one fan fest in every single city throughout the duration of the World Cup will have counter-drone mitigation coverage,” said Giuliani, according to ABC News.

The USA, along with Mexico and Canada, is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19.

USA played their campaign opener on June 12 and registered an emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay, powered by a standout performance from Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic.

Balogun scored twice, while Pulisic delivered a commanding display, constantly troubling the Paraguayan defence and playing a key role in multiple attacking moves as the hosts controlled proceedings from the start.

The USA took an early lead in the 7th minute when Pulisic split the defence with a brilliant pass to Weston McKennie, resulting in Damian Bobadilla turning the ball into his own net. Balogun then doubled the advantage in the 31st minute, finishing a precise cross from Pulisic.

The forward added his second goal deep into stoppage time (90+8′), dribbling past two defenders before sealing a comfortable win for the hosts, who were in full control throughout the match.

Paraguay briefly reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute through Mauricio Magalhães, but failed to mount a sustained comeback against a dominant US side.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino opted to rest Pulisic at half-time, replacing him with Sebastian Berhalter, as the USA managed their squad with an eye on a long tournament ahead.

Late in the match, Gio Reyna added further gloss to the scoreline with a stunning strike from distance, finding the top corner to cap off an emphatic opening win for the hosts.

Elevate Arena is underway at London’s Excel and the hot topic of AI was the first point of discussion on the Debate stage.

Chaired by Melinda Nicci, founder of Bella AI and digital lead at UK Active, the panel was made up of Tiffany Gould, consultant director at Leisure Labs; Jessie Shanahan, CTO at Vor Technologies as well as Suzanne Gabb, COO Good Boost – a social enterprise which provides a good example of AI being used in the industry to support with people with MSK issues via personalised digital programmes. 

A poll of the audience uncovered the fact that there’s still some overwhelm and fear with AI, especially around trust and authenticity.

The conversation revolved around the potential of AI – for example to automate daily tasks, do the grunt work and the research – as well as its limitations, including it being constrained by historical data which may not accurately predict future scenarios – there is also a gap in data about women and older demographics. 

Gould says the industry is currently collecting vast amounts of data without effectively using it for business insights. The panel stressed the importance of identifying the problem and working backwards to establish how AI could be leveraged.

Shanahan also raised the crucial point of keeping the human in the loop to avoid skill decay – if we outsource decision making or critical analysis then we will get worse at it. “No AI model even comes close to humans in making decisions,” she says. “It’s important not to blindly accept what the computer says. It’s tool that has been designed to sound convincing, but not always be accurate.”

The key takeaway was that it should augment human work, not replace it. The fitness sector is driven by relationships and trust is created by having a person involved.

“AI is part of the conversation but not the whole,” says Gould. “Take a step into the world and give it a go, don’t be perfectionist. You have to experiment and try, iterate and change it and it gets better as a consequence.”

Need to refresh your golf shirts, upgrade your accessories, or better, find a last-minute Father’s Day gift without draining your wallet? You’re in luck. PGA Tour Superstore is currently loaded with deep discounts on everything from golf shoes and polos to GPS devices and golf balls.

The best part? These aren’t leftover products that nobody wanted. Many of the biggest markdowns are on premium brands and some of our favorite gear.

We dug through the sale section and found six deals that really stood out not just because of the savings, but because we’d actually buy them ourselves. Whether you’re looking to add a little style to your summer golf lineup or save big on tech that can help your game, now is a great time to grab something on sale.

Here are some of our favorite items that are on sale right now:

Puma Phantomcat Nitro Golf Shoe

Puma’s Phantomcat Nitro (best shoe name ever?) isn’t just another golf shoe, it’s a glimpse into the future. Featuring the brand’s innovative Nitro Foam cushioning and new Flexspike technology, the Phantomcat delivers lightweight comfort, responsive performance and exceptional traction in a sleek, modern package. A waterproof upper and supportive insole round out a design built to perform in all conditions. They look great with shorts, too.

1 Thing We Really Like:
The Nitro Foam cushioning provides sneaker-like comfort without sacrificing stability during the swing. And who doesn’t like a 67% discount?

TravisMathew Featherweight Deco Men’s Golf Polo Shirt

Combining a modern geometric-stripe design with TravisMathew’s incredibly soft Featherweight fabric, this polo delivers premium comfort and as all TM shirts do, fits incredibly well. Lightweight, stretchy and easy to wear, it’s finished with the brand’s signature collar for a polished look.

1 thing we really like: It’s a lightweight performance polo that still feels premium. And, TM shirts last a long time.

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Blue Tees PlayMaker+ Golf GPS Watch

The Blue Tees PlayMaker+ GPS Golf Watch packs premium features into a lightweight and minimal design. With more than 42,000 preloaded courses, a vibrant AMOLED touchscreen and advanced tools like shot tracking, hazard mapping, scorekeeping and Green View, it delivers everything golfers need to play well, without the fuss of advanced features that many golfers don’t use anyway.

1 thing we really like: The bright AMOLED touchscreen is incredibly easy to read, even in direct sunlight.

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A feature-packed GPS golf watch that combines premium technology with ease-of-use.

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Bushnell Wingman Mini Golf GPS Speaker

The Bushnell Wingman Mini packs premium sound and on-course GPS functionality into a compact, portable speaker that’s perfect for walkers and riders alike. Featuring audible front, center, and back green distances from more than 38,000 courses worldwide, the Wingman Mini keeps you informed while also streaming your favorite music. It also comes with Bushnell’s popular BITE magnetic cart mount, a waterproof design, and up to 10 hours of battery life.

1 thing we really like: A compact Bluetooth speaker that combines quality audio with convenient audible GPS yardages? Talk about a win-win. And, the BITE magnet is super strong.

PGA Tour Apparel Solar Block Sleeves

Summer golf means long days in the sun, and these slip-on sleeves offer a simple way to stay protected without sacrificing comfort or excessive layering. Made from a lightweight, breathable stretch fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, they help shield your arms from harmful UV rays and actually do a decent job at keeping you cool during your round. Plus, they add a Tour-inspired look that many golfers have embraced.

1 thing we really like: Skin protection is a must these days and these are a great way to keep your arms protected. At this low price, why not grab two sets?

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Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Anytime you can snag three dozen golf balls for less than the price of one premium dozen, you should definitely consider it. Designed for golfers who prioritize feel without sacrificing distance, the Srixon Soft Feel delivers exactly what its name promises with a FastLayer Core to help generate impressive ball speeds while maintaining a soft, responsive feel. The 338 Speed Dimple Pattern promotes a higher, longer flight with excellent stability in windy conditions. Comes in five colors to choose from. Put it this way: Srixon has no business making this ball this affordable, but we’re here for it. The buy-two-dozen-get-one-free promo is a tremendous value.

1 thing we really like: Outstanding value in a ball many amateurs (especially dads) will love.

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The Cleveland Browns entered last season with one of the NFL’s more crowded quarterback rooms.

Shedeur Sanders took over as starting quarterback in Week 12 last season, and after two more starts, he was named the starter for the remainder of the season. Sanders’ stunning slide to the fifth round of the 2025 draft set the stage for him becoming one of the most scrutinized rookies in recent memory.

Few know Shedeur’s game better than Deion Sanders, his father and former college coach. On Wednesday, the two-time Super Bowl champion reflected on his son’s rookie season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. during the first half of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 21, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)

After Shedeur endured an uneven rookie season for the 5-12 Browns, the Colorado football coach said he hoped for more from his son but also pointed to the support young quarterbacks need early in their development.

“I would have wanted him to perform a little better, but that’s not just an individual thing, that’s a team thing,” Sanders told Covers while speaking on behalf of his partnership with Depend.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders greets his dad Deion Sanders before an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland on Dec. 21, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)

“A quarterback needs help tremendously from the offensive line, from the receivers, from the running game, from the coordinators as well. “It’s not just a singular thing, like a defensive back. I don’t care what the pass rush is, (the DB) has got to do his job. It’s a little different with a quarterback. He needs several things to go right for him to be successful.”

BROWNS GM ANDREW BERRY WON’T COMMIT TO SHEDEUR SANDERS AS 2026 STARTER DESPITE ROOKIE’S PROGRESS

Sanders also weighed in on Cleveland’s decision to trade the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, a move that underscored the Browns’ rebuild.

“I’m happy with Mr. Berry, the GM, and what he’s doing, I’m not going to question his direction of what he’s bringing to the table,” Sanders said of Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in Cleveland on Nov. 30, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)

“I’m not there, so I don’t know all the intangibles that provoked that trade. I’m happy with what they got, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.”

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Sanders finished his rookie season 3-4 as a starter, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

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Apprentice jockey Caitlin Hollowood achieved a significant career milestone with Prestige Forever’s victory at Caulfield Heath.

After accumulating 33 wins across country and provincial tracks in Victoria and New South Wales, Hollowood celebrated her first metropolitan success aboard the Julius Sandhu-trained Prestige Forever in the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1500m) on Wednesday.

“It’s unreal,” Hollowood commented. “For a second, I thought we were beaten, but he really fought back and really dug in deep. I’m so happy to get the win, especially for Julius too. It was my first ride for him, so we’re starting off in a good way.”

Prestige Forever ($12), despite starting from the widest barrier, was challenged in the home straight but managed to fight back and defeat the Tom Dabernig-trained stablemates Dantooine ($4.40) and Corro ($17) by a short-head.

The colt, Prestige Forever, began his career with the David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins stable, where he notably won the Listed St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley as a two-year-old.

He was subsequently transferred to Matt Laurie when Brideoake retired from training, before heading to Sandhu’s Cranbourne base.

Sandhu noted that considerable effort was required from Hollowood during her first ride for the stable on a horse that had previously shown a tendency to not always give its best.

“We asked a lot of her as this guy had been taking the ‘mickey’ back home,” Sandhu revealed. “We know he’s talented, but he has a bit of a good old think, so we just had to go and do something different. We drew the outside barrier, and I said to give him a good squeeze and get him to the front. I said to be aggressive, and she was, and she rated him well in front. Credit to the horse. He was headed at that furlong mark, but he fought deep and it’s good for the connections, and hopefully that’s the making of him. As a two-year-old he showed plenty but did not always have his mind on the job.”

Want to back the next big winner? Check out the latest racing odds at racing betting markets.