A Portuguese police homicide squad is investigating the mystery disappearance of an ‘anti-Putin’ Russian artist.
Mikhail Gordeev (32) was reported missing after failing to show at an arranged meeting with friends on Monday in Lisbon’s central Marques de Pombal area.
Sources close to the expat furniture designer described him as a critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, but insisted he was not actively involved in politics.
The Policia Judiciaria’s Homicide Squad is understood to have taken charge of the ongoing investigation into Mikhail’s disappearance.
Local reports say his friends and husband reported him missing after he failed to answer messages and they discovered through the Find My iPhone app his mobile had been used in three different places including Loures near Lisbon and Mafra around an hour north of the Portuguese capital.
Respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha said a group of friends searching for him before detectives were called in on Tuesday had found a pair of AirPods in the street in another location linked to his phone in the Lisbon neighbourhood of Saldanha.
It reported on Friday that “kidnap and death” had not been ruled out as possible scenarios.
Mikhail and his husband, who has not been named, are understood to have been well-established in Lisbon and helped compatriots with residency status.
Sources close to the couple, quoted in Portuguese press, said Mikhail had “never been interested in politics in his homeland but opposed the way Vladimir Putin exercised power.”
A friend said in an online appeal for information about Mikhail, describing him as being just over 6ft tall with brown eyes, a beard and moustache and long hair usually tied in a ponytail: “He was last seen on September 15 at 6.30pm heading to a meeting at Marques de Pombal Square in Lisbon.
“It is assumed he may have headed out to the A8 highway or the surrounding area.
“His current whereabouts is unknown.”
Another pal said: “Our friend Mikhail Gordeev is missing” and added in a separate appeal: "He may have entered a car" as he urged anyone with contacts in taxi services or car rentals as well as possible witnesses and owners of street security cameras in the Mafra municipality areas of Malveira, Venda do Pinheiro or nearby to come forward.
Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria force has not yet made any official comment on the disappearance.
