Russians Offering US Election Secrets For American Protection Moved to Bangkok

Photo: Anastasia Vashukevich / Instagram
Photo: Anastasia Vashukevich / Instagram

BANGKOK — Ten foreign nationals facing deportation for allegedly offering a paid “sex training” course in Pattaya have had their visas formally revoked and are being held Thursday at Bangkok’s Immigration Detention Center.

Four days after self-styled Russian “sex guru” Alexander Kirillov, aka Alex Lesley, and nine associates – one of whom claims to have dirt on Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential election – were arrested at a Pattaya hotel, their lawyer said they were likely to stay put for some time in Bangkok.

Read Letter Offering Evidence of Russian Meddling Just Delivered to US Embassy

Thana Siwadonwanit, a lawyer representing the group, said he doesn’t expect the suspects will be deported any time soon, because they have a right to due process in contesting the deportation. He said they also have criminal cases pending against them in the courts.

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“They won’t leave soon,” Thana said.

Kirillov and the nine others were charged with working in Thailand without a permit. One of his assistants, a Russian living in Thailand, was also charged with overstaying her visa.

A letter from Kirillov seeking American protection from deportation back to Russia was delivered Wednesday to the US Embassy in Bangkok. It promised “photo-video-audio” evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election obtained by Anastasia Vashukevich, a woman in the group whose affair with a married Russian oligarch erupted in scandal earlier this month when it was promoted by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Khaosod English Exclusive: Russians in Thai Jail Offer Secrets on Trump Election For US

An associate of Kirillov’s said they believe Russia is exerting pressure to keep them behind bars or deported home.

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“Alex said that it’s all about information they know about influence of Russia into US election,” Pavlo Yunko, a US national, said in a message Thursday afternoon.

Representatives from the Russian and American embassies have declined to discuss the matter.