By JEFF FARRELL

Staff Writer

GATLINBURG — Police here released few new details Monday on the weekend discovery of remains believed to be that of a Russian couple missing since July 2002.

Vladimir Yemelyanov and Sufiya Arslanova disappeared from their efficiency studio apartment in 2002 and have not been seen since. Authorities believe the two were operating an employment services for other Russians who came to this area.

Over the weekend, Gatlinburg police announced the discovery of skeletal remains near Highway 321 inside the city, based on “new information.” Police said they are believed to be the remains of Yemelyanov and Arslanova, but did not elaborate on why they felt that way.

“The investigator gave me the information and we went and sure enough they were there,” Police Chief Randy Brackins said Monday. “That’s all I can say about it at this point.”

Authorities sent the bones to be tested for confirmation of their identity.

After the couple disappeared, authorities say blood was discovered in their apartment. A second man, Yuriy Solovyev, was believed to have been living with the couple when they vanished. Authorities eventually said they found video evidence that Solovyev used one of the couple’s credit cards after their disappearance.

A grand jury issued a sealed indictment against Solovyev for the couple’s murder in May 2004; prosecutors opened that indictment in 2005 and announced they were searching for him.

For a time, he was listed as one of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s 10 most wanted fugitives, but he has since been removed from that list.

At one point, Brackins said, authorities were able to confirm Solovyev was in Russia, but were unable to extradite him to face the charges.

“That’s the last we knew,” the chief said.

jfarrell@themountainpress