Welcome to What The Heck season 4! This podcast explores unexplained phenomena using stories gathered from various sources, then applies an academic research method to find theories and solutions for each one. So far, we've been unsuccessful in finding any concrete answers, but a few of the stories we've covered have been solved. Today, we're looking at the disappearance of Zelim Bakaev. Zelim grew up in Chechnya and, through his love of music, became a popstar. He moved to Russia in 2012 and lived there, applying to be on a reality show in 2017. However, he returned home in August 2017 to attend his sister's wedding and was arrested. His mother asked the police to look for him, but they failed to do so, and the last time Zelim was seen was in September 2017 in a pair of YouTube videos. Who is Zelim Bakaev? What was going on in Chechnya in 2017? What happened to Zelim? Listen in to find out!

Links for other ways to listen are found here: https://linktr.ee/whattheheckpod

References for the episode:

Beard, Matt. “Chechen Pop Singer Zelim Bakaev Is Still Missing after Six Months – Here’s How You Can Demand Answers.” GAY TIMES, 12 Feb. 2018, https://www.gaytimes.com/life/chechen-pop-singer-still-missing-after-six-months/.

Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Zelim Bakaev - Wikipedia.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 23 Oct. 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelim_Bakaev.

Khazov-Cassia, Sergei, and Carl Schreck. “Kadyrov Hints At Antigay Honor Killing Of Chechen Singer.” RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, RFE/RL, 18 Jan. 2018, https://www.rferl.org/a/kadyrov-bakayev-antigay-honor-killing-singer-chechnya/28983059.html.

Lobanov, Vladislav. “Singer Still Missing After Chechnya’s Anti-Gay Purge | Human Rights Watch.” Human Rights Watch, 7 Nov. 2017, https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/07/singer-still-missing-after-chechnyas-anti-gay-purge.

McKee, Jake. “Chechnya Leader Accused of Ordering Murder of Missing Gay Man.” PinkNews | Latest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans News | LGBTQ+ News, 27 July 2023, https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/07/27/zelimkhan-bakaev-ramzan-kadyrov-chechnya/.

You can email Glen at whattheheckpod3@gmail.com with any of your spooky stories, unexplained events, mysteries that you want him to look at, or anything you'd like him to correct or address. Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the podcast and think you know others who will like it, share it with them!

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