He was the mayor of Arue, a small commune on the Windward Islands, and founder and President of the Fetia Api party until his disappearance in 2002.
In 1996, Léontieff founded the Fetia Api party, which advocated for French Polynesian independence and opposed Gaston Flosse.
[4][5] On 23 May 2002, Léontieff and Fetia Api members Lucien Kimitete, Arsen Tuairau and Ferfine Besseyre set out on a flight from Kaukura to Makemo in the Tuamotus to campaign in municipal elections.
The plane was diverted due to bad weather to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands, and failed to arrive in Makemo.
[14] In 2004, allegations that Jean-Pascal Couraud had been murdered by members of the Gaston Flosse's private police force, the Presidential Intervention Group (GIP), led to speculation that Léontieff's disappearance had been the result of foul play.