Russian Tourists from Urals Detained in Egyptian Police

Nikita Talanov and Vladislav Revenko from Yekaterinburg, who were considered missing in Egypt, have been found and are in police custody. Information from the diplomatic mission came after an official request.

The Russian Embassy in Cairo stated: «Three Russians arrived from Yekaterinburg to Sharm el-Sheikh on January 21, from where they independently traveled to Cairo and soon stopped communicating with relatives. After the compatriots failed to appear for their return flight, the embassy sent a request for assistance in establishing their whereabouts to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and law enforcement agencies of the Arab Republic of Egypt. According to preliminary information received from there, they are currently in Egyptian police custody. The circumstances of what happened to them are being clarified. All efforts are being made for the safe return of the tourists to Russia.»

In addition to the Urals residents, a third participant of the trip was detained—their friend from Krasnodar. Vladislav«s father, Pavel, clarified that confirmation of the detention has been received from the Egyptian Ministry of Internal Affairs. »It is still unknown where and for what. But they are alive and well. Whether there will be charges from the Egyptian police or if they only face deportation is unclear,« he explained.

The young men arrived for vacation in Sharm el-Sheikh on January 21, and their return flight was scheduled for January 27. A day before the flight, they stopped answering calls and did not arrive at the airport. Prior to that, the tourists had visited Cairo.

Nikita Talanov«s mother suggested a possible reason for the trip. »My son posted a photo of the pyramids at eight in the evening—and disappeared. They have one hobby—graffiti, they are street artists. And I have suspicions that they went there for that purpose,« she said.