Dubai: Offers for help have poured in from Gulf News readers who were touched by the story published on the newspaper's website on Tuesday about the disappearance of an Uzbek woman in Dubai.
A large number of readers called the woman's friend Roman Nasyrov, whose number was published, offering any help they could provide to the family of Ekaterina Kovalik, a 30-year-old woman who was last heard from on January 15.
The matter has been reported to police, Nasyrov told Gulf News, and investigations started after Ekaterina's mother in Uzbekistan sought his help in finding her daughter.
"One of the people who called knew Ekaterina and had some information which we will tell the police about," Nasyrov said.
The missing person report was filed on Monday at the Rashidiya Police Station, and Nasyrov was called for interrogation.
Ekaterina, Katya to friends, had been working at the Mall of the Emirates since July 2011, and lived in a ground floor studio apartment in International City, Building U7.
She was diagnosed with brain tumour, and quit her job and sold her belongings, planning to return to her country, where she has a five-year-old daughter.
"Ekaterina is very ill. She had to quit her job because of her illness and was going to return home. Last time her family heard from her was on January 15," Nasyrov, an old friend, said. "Katya is a responsible girl and she used to call home very frequently. She hasn't returned and hasn't answered calls. I also checked mortuaries and did not find her body.
"Anyone who has any information can inform the police or contact me on my mobile phone 0552925322."