Volunteers have found the bodies of 4-year-old Yelizaveta Fomkina and her mentally handicapped aunt Maria who got lost in a Moscow region forest 10 days ago, news reports said Thursday.
The two disappeared Sept. 13 after they took their dog for a stroll in the Orekhovo-Zuyevo district, RIA-Novosti reported. The dog returned alone “several days later” and led the search party to one of the bodies Wednesday, Lifenews.ru said.
Forensic experts ruled that the girl died of hypothermia Monday, a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee said. She did not say what killed Maria Fomkina, but earlier reports said no traces of violence were found.
A volunteer who spoke on condition of anonymity told RIA-Novosti that the victims could have been rescued if police and the Emergency Situations Ministry had deployed more men for the search operation.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
