Strange goings on in Russia, with the fate of online travel agency Oktogo in the balance.
The well-backed company's consumer-facing site has been offline this week after a period of claim and counter-claim during February over the future of the brand.
Issues surrounding the company first surfaced in January this year when Oktogo's CEO, Marina Kolesnik, was said to have sent employees a letter that warned of a possible closure of the business due to financial problems.
During initial correspondence with Tnooz, Kolesnik said there was a letter "for internal use and not for a wide distribution", adding that a "fake letter" had also been circulated outside of the company.
Oktogo, at that point still an operating entity online, was "working on a transaction", Kolesnik said in an email.
Although still involved in the company or with some degree of knowledge of the situation, Kolesnik says that she left her role as CEO in November last year and relocated to the US.
The company's page on Russian social network VK is littered with complaints about the failure of payments to hotel partners and customer service numbers not working for travellers.
Local media have also noted court cases involving Oktogo and an investment fund.
Kolesnik's last contact with Tnooz in mid-February stated: "When I have information to share, I will be glad to do so."
Oktogo was one of a number of new businesses to emerge over the past decade in Russia, targeting the massive outbound market and affluent middle class.
It raised some $33 million since its formation in 2009, with two of the biggest tranches coming in 2013 and 2012 when it raised $11 million and $10 million respectively.
Oktogo bought Travel.ru in September 2013
Speculation in recent months rests on what are believed to be problems emanating from its funding from MCI Management, a Polish investment group.
The organisation pumped in $2 million in January 2016 and $5 million in March 2015.
MCI no longer lists Oktogo on its portfolio or exit roster. It has not responded to a request for comment.