"Unfortunately, we have to admit there are no chances to find Murat Otepbayev and Andrey Korneyev alive. Despite this, Kazakhstani helicopter will make one more flight and after that the search and rescue operation will be completed. We express condolences to the family members of Alexander Chechulin, Murat Otepbayev and Andrey Korenyev. It is a grievous loss for Kazakhstani alpinism," said the federation.
The federation said since the first day of the tragedy "they have been monitoring the situation at the Victory peak 24 hours a day".
"We have been tracing the search and rescue operation and fully trust the professional climbers and rescuers. The complicated snowy weather on the route does not allow holding fully scaled rescue works. Jointly with the climbers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, MES RK, Ministry of Defense, Alpinism Federation, Ak-Sai Travel there have been several flights by helicopter," said the federation.
Photo source: picture from an open source