The Head of Interpol, Russian President Vladimir Putin + 4 Other World’s Politicians Who Once Went Missing
When world-famous politicians suddenly disappear, it attracts lots of the limelight of public and the media. Following the news about the head of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, disappearing Nexter.org made up a list of other famous leaders who once went missing.
Head of Interpol Meng Hongwei
On Friday, October 5th, the Chinese president of Interpol, the international police agency, has vanished.
Meng’s wife went to police in Lyon, where Interpol is based, Thursday night to report his disappearance, according to a statement released by the French Interior Ministry on Friday. The spouse told police that she had last heard from him 10 days ago and had recently received threats via social networks and by telephone, according to the statement.
As it turned out, Meng Hongwei, who was also a vice minister of public security in China, has been accused by the Chinese government of accepting bribes and committing unspecified other crimes.
In an earlier statement released on Sunday, the Chinese government said Meng was “under investigation” by the National Supervisory Commission, the country’s top anti-corruption unit, but gave no further details on whether he was in custody or what the charges might be.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Source: Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS
Mr Putin had disappeared from public life for 11 days to meet with the President of Kyrgyzstan. At that time Putin was seen in public on March 5, 2015 and reappeared again on March 16, when he had hosted a summit with the Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev.
A smiling Mr Putin did not address the issue while answering questions from reporters summoned for the occasion, saying only: “It would be boring without gossip.”
Melania Trump
Source: Getty Images
First Lady Melania Trump had not been seen in public for 20 days in May 2018.
Four days after that appearance, the White House announced that the 48-year-old had successfully undergone an “embolisation” procedure to treat a benign kidney condition, and that there were no complications. She spent five nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Maryland.
Melania’s absence from public view has spawned all sorts of wild theories on social media about health and marriage.
Australia’s PM Harold Holt
Source: Getty Images
Australia’s Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing on December 17, 1967 – the day Holt stepped into the surf at Cheviot Beach near Melbourne and was never to be seen again.
The Australian leader was presumed drowned and a memorial service was held in his honor, attended by world leaders including UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson and US President Lyndon Johnson.
But his body was never found, leading to a range of ever-more ridiculous conspiracy theories, including one book which claimed he had been taken by a Chinese submarine.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Source: AP
In June 2011, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s almost month-long disappearance sparked serious concerns about his health. Later he and his government controlled the public’s fears by releasing photos of Chavez taking a walk with Fidel Castro in Cuba.
China’s top leader Xi Jinping
Source: Getty Images
Xi Jinping disappeared for two weeks in August-September 2012.During hiding, he skipped meetings with foreign leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He was then the China’s leader-in-waiting for the top post.
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