Update on the search for 16-year-old figure skater Alina Gorbachova
Approximately ninety volunteers from the LizaAlert organization participated in a coordinated search for Alina Gorbachova, a 16-year-old Russian figure skater. The organization relayed this information to a news agency, describing the scale of the operation and the method of tracing her whereabouts. The response involved a dedicated call center and a network of volunteers who worked in shifts to cover a wide area and maintain contact with families and authorities. The organization confirmed that a key certificate had identified the girl in a mall vicinity and that this document was promptly handed to police officers assigned to the mall grounds. During the examination of this lead, Alina Gorbachova was located and returned to the care of authorities. In total, the call center under LizaAlert lists about 90 registered volunteers who are ready to assist in ongoing or future missing-person cases.
Gorbachova’s disappearance was reported by her mother on August 29. The teenager had been at a skating rink at the Chkalov Arena earlier, where an argument with her coach, Sofia Fedchenko, was reported. At around 6:54 p.m. on the previous day, Alina left the rink and headed toward nearby landmarks, including Vladimirskaya Church, eventually entering a park along the Pokrovskaya Embankment. The timeline established by authorities tracks her movements through the late afternoon and evening, as investigators seek to understand the sequence of events that led to her being unaccounted for.
Authorities conducted extensive searches in the Pokrovskaya Embankment area, including underwater work by divers, but no trace of the skater was found at the location. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case to examine her disappearance, and investigators continued to gather information from various sources. Surveillance footage later indicated that Alina was seen at a cafe along the Volokolamsk highway, with the cashier confirming her entry into the establishment. On the evening of August 29, prosecutors reported that she had been located at a cinema inside one of Moscow’s shopping centers. Subsequently, investigators informed the public that the athlete had been taken to a metropolitan division for further proceedings and interview as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Gorbachova, at just 16, held the title of Russia’s junior national champion, a title she earned in February 2023 at the junior championships held in Perm. The recognition highlighted her as a rising star in the country’s figure skating scene and underscored the attention her disappearance drew from coaches, fans, and the broader community involved in youth sports. As the case progressed, statements from family members and coaching staff shaped the public understanding of the events surrounding her absence and the steps taken by authorities to ensure her safety.
Early public statements from Gorbachova’s family suggested that a family member had raised concerns about communication restrictions imposed by the skater’s coach. Those remarks prompted discussions about the relationship between athletes and coaching staff within youth sports programs. Throughout the investigation, officials emphasized that the priority remained the safe return of the skater and the thorough clarification of all circumstances surrounding the incident. The case continued to be monitored by prosecutors and law enforcement as more information emerged through interviews, witness accounts, and digital records. The goal for authorities and the community has been to assemble a complete picture of Gorbachova’s movements on the days leading up to her disappearance and to ensure that appropriate support is available for her family during this difficult time.