Body of Russian Artist Found

Putin Critic Apparently Committed Suicide

The body of Anna Mikhalchuk, a Russian artist who went missing from Berlin last month, was found on Thursday in the Spree River. German police believe she committed suicide.

The body of a Russian artist who went missing in Berlin last month has been found, say German police. In a statement issued on Friday, police say that a body discovered on Thursday was, "in all probability," that of 52-year-old Anna Mikhalchuk. Police said she appears to have committed suicide.

Mikhalchuk's disappearance from her Berlin home three weeks ago drew the interest of international media because she had been a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"So far there are no indications that Ms. Mikhalchuk was the victim of a crime," said German police in Berlin. "She apparently took her own life."

The body was found Thursday in the Spree River, near the Mühlendamm bridge in the downtown Mitte district. Police are awaiting autopsy results to determine without a doubt that it is the missing woman.

pmm/ap