Search Underway for Missing 20-Year-Old Bessarabian Bulgarian With Autism

Police and relatives are searching for 20-year-old Vladislav, a young man with autism who disappeared in Sandanski and has now been missing for more than a day.

His family, Bessarabian Bulgarians who recently relocated to Bulgaria and settled in the southwestern town, reported him missing after he failed to return home.

According to his mother, Vladislav was last seen at about 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday in the Shkembezhinitsa area of Sandanski.

She believes he may have been persuaded to get into a taxi and driven to an unknown location.

Initially, his mobile phone was switched on, but no one was able to reach him later that evening. His mother believes the battery may have run out. Another local media report, however, stated that the young man did not have a phone, leaving relatives unable to establish contact.

Vladislav has an autism spectrum disorder and speaks Russian. His family is especially concerned because he depends on medication that he was not carrying when he disappeared.

Relatives also said he has no money with him and fear he may have traveled toward Sofia, where the family previously lived.

His mother believes he is likely disoriented and frightened.

At the time of his disappearance, Vladislav was reportedly wearing military green pants, a T-shirt, a denim vest and black sneakers. He was also wearing chains decorated with rock band pendants.

His family has appealed to the public for help, urging anyone who may have seen him or has information about his whereabouts to immediately contact emergency services, the nearest police station or the family directly.

Relatives stressed that “any information, even if it seems unimportant,” could prove vital in locating the missing young man.

The case has drawn comparisons to the 2022 disappearance of 12-year-old Sashko near Pernik, another child with autism spectrum disorder who was found alive by volunteer rescuers after nearly two weeks of intensive searches.