Woman Accused of Poisoning Her Look-Alike With a Cheesecake

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1 March 2018, 12:13

NEW YORK — A Russian native was charged with poisoning a look-alike with a tranquilizer-laced cheesecake and then stealing her passport, cash and other property after trying to make it look like a suicide attempt, authorities said Wednesday.

“This is a bizarre and twisted crime that could have resulted in the death of a Queens woman, whose only fault was that she shared similar features with the defendant,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The suspect, Viktoria Nasyrova, 42, of Brooklyn, was arraigned Tuesday on attempted murder, burglary, assault and other charges after being arrested in March 2017. Her lawyer, Barbara Byrne, declined to comment. In an earlier interview with CBS, Nasyrova denied forcing the woman to eat the cheesecake.

In August 2016, Nasyrova, visited the Forest Hills, Queens, home of the 35-year-old victim bearing a gift of a cheesecake, said Brown. He added that both women have dark hair, the same skin complexion and speak Russian.

“The woman ate the cheesecake, fell ill and laid down,” Brown said. “Before passing out, the woman’s last memory is of seeing the defendant sitting beside her inside her home.”

The following day, a friend found the victim unconscious in her bed, “dressed in lingerie with pills scattered around her body as if the woman had attempted to kill herself,” Brown said.

The woman was treated at a hospital and when she returned home she realized that her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with a gold ring and cash.

Law enforcement agents with the Department of Homeland Security tested the cheesecake and confirmed it was laced with the Russian tranquilizer Phenazepan. The pills contained the same drug as well, Brown said.

Nasyrova also is accused of drugging and killing a woman in her native country before fleeing to New York. She denied those charges in the CBS interview.

Nasyrova faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. She’s next due in court May 25.

Story: Tom McElroy

Pattaya Vendors Arrested for Brawl With U.S. Soldiers

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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1 March 2018, 12:00

Arrested vendors are presented to media Wednesday at Pattaya City Police Station

PATTAYA — A group of watch sellers in the resort town of Pattaya were arrested Wednesday for allegedly starting a punching match with American soldiers in town for a joint military exercise.

The six vendors were charged with selling counterfeit goods. Two of them were charged with assault for the Saturday brawl – footage of which later surfaced on social media and drew outrage and fined 5,000 baht.

Police said the head vendor, Uthit Suthok, told investigators the group was hawking timepieces to six Americans on Saturday. The soldiers spent some time examining the watches before throwing them to the ground, police said at a Wednesday news conference.

A heated argument broke out, and the vendors started fighting with the soldiers, police said.

Tourism police inspector Piyapong Ensan said the Americans were visiting Pattaya after participating in Cobra Gold, an annual joint military drill between Thailand, the United States and about two dozen other participants or observers.

The American soldiers were also fined 1,000 baht each for engaging in the fight, he said.

Junta Pans Protesters for Prayuth-Pinocchio Comparison

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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1 March 2018, 10:57

Protesters put on “Yuth-nocchio” masks at Saturday protest

BANGKOK — A junta spokesman on Thursday urged pro-democracy activists to stop mocking regime leader Prayuth Chan-ocha with their Pinocchio masks.

Maj. Gen. Piyapong Klinpan, who also commands a special prison where government opponents are routinely detained, said the junta leader is a person deserving respect, or puu yai, who should not be lampooned with such caricatures.

“I’d like to warn the demonstrators about what’s appropriate,” Piyapong said. “The prime minister is a puu yai of this country. They should not assume things and use a cartoon to mock him like what happened last week.”

On Saturday a group of protesters donned the masks of Pinocchio, the fictional puppet character whose nose gets longer every time he lies, to call Prayuth a liar for repeatedly promising election dates only to postpone them later.

Election Vow Highlights:
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‘There Will Definitely be an Election’ in 2017, Prayuth Promises
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No Elections For Thailand This Year, NLA Says
No Really, There Will Be Elections This Year, Prawit Says
Asserting ‘Thailand First,’ Prayuth Says Elections Up to Him

The activists called the masks, which resemble the junta chairman, “Yuth-nocchio.”

Activist leader Rangsiman Rome rejected Piyapong’s call on the ground that Prayuth is a public figure who’s liable for criticism and mockery.

“Anyone can be subject of mockery, as long as it doesn’t escalate into bullying or hate speech,” Rangsiman said. “Secondly, it’s normal for public figures to be mocked. He’s a prime minister. He should understand this.”

The activist continued, “I don’t give any value to anyone who said Prayuth should be spared because he is a puu yai. Even elected politicians were mocked too.”

Rangsiman and other leaders call for a weekly protest to demand an election by November as Prayuth promised last year. The junta leader has since claimed he never made such promise – despite having done so through a news conference attended by dozens of reporters – and postponed the election to February 2019.

Saturday’s protest will go ahead as usual, and the venue will be announced at a later date, Rangsiman said.

Vietnamese Immigrants Sue US Officials Over Detentions

By

Associated Press

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1 March 2018, 10:17

U.S. President Donald Trump, center, reacts as he does the "ASEAN-way handshake" with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, left, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on stage during the opening ceremony Nov. 13 at the ASEAN Summit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press

SANTA ANA, California — Vietnamese immigrants have filed a lawsuit alleging U.S. authorities are rounding them up and holding them in detention facilities for deportation – even though the Vietnamese government has not agreed to take them back.

Vietnam has only agreed to repatriate deportees who arrived in the United States after the two countries renewed diplomatic relations in 1995, the detainees’ lawyers said Wednesday.

The attorneys for the detained immigrants believe the Trump administration has started arresting deportees who came to the country before that date to pressure Vietnam to broaden the repatriation agreement.

“They are just using this as an excuse to round up people indiscriminately in the hope they can then convince Vietnam to take them back,” said Laboni Hoq, litigation director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed last week in federal court in Southern California with three named plaintiffs and seeks class action status.

About 1.3 million Vietnamese immigrants live in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

It wasn’t immediately known how many arrived in the country before 1995, but many Vietnamese immigrants came as refugees after Saigon fell to communist forces in 1975.

As many as 10,000 Vietnamese immigrants have deportation orders, in many cases because they lost their green cards after criminal convictions, plaintiffs’ lawyers said.

In the past, authorities would typically release the immigrants if they had arrived in the United States before 1995 because of a Supreme Court ruling that generally bars authorities from detaining immigrants after a reasonable period of time if there’s no chance of deporting them.

But last year, authorities began arresting Vietnamese immigrants who had been in the United States for decades and were not subject to the repatriation agreement signed in 2008.

Plaintiff Long Nguyen, a 41-year-old resident of Charleston, South Carolina, came to the United States as a child in 1987, according to the lawsuit. He was issued a deportation order in 2012 after a drug charge and released from custody until October, when authorities pulled him over on his way to work and arrested him.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers said at least 45 Vietnamese immigrants are involved in such cases and have been held for months.

Vietnamese immigrants were arrested in October in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado and California, and many were interviewed by the Vietnamese consulate late last year, the lawsuit said.

In many communities, Vietnamese immigrants now fear they could be arrested even if they’ve lived in the U.S. for decades.

“I live day to day with uncertainty and fear,” said Tung Nguyen, an ex-convict-turned community advocate in Orange County, California, who has a deportation order. “If you don’t see me tomorrow, just remember me when I am gone.”

Story: Amy Taxin

Sam Smith to Serenade Bangkok for 1st Time

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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28 February 2018, 19:00

BANGKOK — Is your pocket ready for more concerts? Sam Smith will hold a concert in Bangkok for the first time.

Best known for “Stay With Me,” “I’m Not the Only One” and “Too Good at Goodbyes,” English singer-songwriter Sam Smith will be making his Bangkok debut in October, organizer Bec-Tero Entertainment announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Thrill of It All Tour will take place on Oct. 28 at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani. Tickets are 2,000 baht and will go on sale at 10am June 30 via ThaiTicketMajor.

Cop Prevails, Teacher Arrested in 30M Baht Lottery Feud

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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28 February 2018, 18:58

Police escort Preecha Kraikruan on Wednesday to Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok

BANGKOK — Two men – a cop and a teacher – enter a dispute over a 30-million baht lotto jackpot. One leaves unscathed; the other is arrested.

The two-month saga that captured headlines on a daily basis came to an end – sort of – on Wednesday when police arrested one of the lottery claimants and charged him with filing false accusations against his rival. A woman who had come forward to support his claim was also apprehended.

Police officers arrested teacher Preecha Kraikruan, 50, at his school Wednesday noon in Kanchanaburi province while he was giving interviews to reporters. He was expressing doubt over news an arrest warrant issued for him just before police apprehended him.

“I haven’t seen the warrant, so I don’t know if its true or not,” Preecha said moments before the cops swept in to take him to Bangkok by van.

His witness, a lottery vendor who claimed to sell him the winning ticket, was also arrested today. Both Preecha and Rattanaporn Suphathip were charged with filing false police reports and attempting to put others under wrongful prosecution.

S 10584263 — Police escort Rattanaporn Suphathip on Wednesday to Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok

At a Wednesday news conference, police commissioner Chakthip Chachinda hinted that one of the two men would end up in jail.

“To compare this case to sports: Sports have wins, losses and draws,” Gen. Chakthip said. “But in this case, there are only wins and losses. There are no draws. There’s only imprisonment.”

However, he stopped short of declaring who the lottery belonged to, saying it’s up to the court to have a final say.

The dispute started back in December when retired police officer Lt. Charoon Wimon told reporters he won the first prize – 30 million baht – of a Nov. 30 lottery draw only to find his prize money frozen by authorities because Preecha told police he was the one who had bought the winning ticket.

Charoon, 62, insisted he bought the lottery from a local market, though he said he could not remember the vendor’s identity.

Preecha said he was the one who bought the ticket but later lost it. He accused Charoon of finding it and falsely claiming it his own. The teacher also presented lotto vendor Rattanaporn as a key witness to support his claim.

หมวด จรูญ ๑๘๐๒๒๘ 0016 — Lt. Charoon Wimon holds his wife’s hand Wednesday as they watch a live broadcast of police news conference

While social media debated who the lotto really belonged to and national media obsessed over the latest twists and turns, police last week said they had identified the fraudster in the dispute and promised a news conference by Wednesday.

By Tuesday night, police had obtained arrest warrants for Preecha and Rattanaporn. The latter maintained she sold the lottery to Preecha in a TV interview just hours before she was arrested.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, retired cop Charoon thanked those who believe his side of story.

“I’m relieved that truth surfaced today. I have been waiting for today for a long time,” Charoon said at his residence. “I thank everyone for understanding me. Today I can smile.”

Preecha and Rattanaporn were being questioned at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok as of publication time.

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

By

Todd Ruiz, Editor

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28 February 2018, 17:22

Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha meets Nikolai Patrushev, the former FSB chief who heads Russia's security council, Wednesday at Bangkok's Government House. Original photo: Government House. A photo of a letter appealing for American intervention by a group of Russians in Thai custody is inset.

Top: Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha meets Nikolai Patrushev, the former FSB chief who heads Russia’s security council, Wednesday at Bangkok’s Government House. Original photo: Government House. A photo of a letter appealing for American intervention by a group of Russians in Thai custody is inset.

BANGKOK — An associate of a group of Russians offering information about meddling in the 2016 US election said Wednesday afternoon that he delivered a letter on their behalf to the American Embassy in Bangkok as the leader of the ruling junta met with the head of Russia’s national security council.

Pavlo Yunko, whose attempt to sneak out the letter addressed to US Ambassador Glyn Davies was intercepted by Thai immigration authorities last night, said someone identifying himself as “John” came out and received the letter which promises “photo-video-audio” evidence of Russia’s illicit activities.

“He said that he would do everything possible to give the letter to his boss and there’s no guarantee,” Yunko told Khaosod English. “That’s about it.”

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

US Embassy spokesman Jillian Bonnardeaux declined to comment.

Yunko was one of several dozen participants who joined an “advanced sex class” offered in Pattaya last week by Russian “sex guru” Aleksandr Kirillov, aka Alex Lesley.

“It was awesome, everything was really fun,” Yunko said Tuesday night at the Pattaya immigration bureau, where Kirillov and nine others were detained two days after being arrested on the program’s last day. “Alex told me he wanted to celebrate.”

Kirillov and nine others were jailed Sunday and are offering the information in exchange for American help in keeping Thailand from deporting them back to Russia.

The Russian Embassy also declined to comment on the story Tuesday, but confirmed the facts of it in an email on Wednesday.

“To our knowledge 10 persons: 7 Russian citizens (with Aleksandr Kirillov (alias Leslie) among them and 3 from Belarus with Ms. Vashukevich (alias Rybka) among them were detained in Pattaya on February 25, 2018. They were charged with violation of Thai labour legislation and in accordance with the Thai immigration law will be fined and deported to their home countries in due course,” the consular section of the Embassy of Russia in Thailand wrote in an unsigned message.

Yunko said he wanted to help deliver the letter for fear that Thailand was being pressured into sending Kirillov and his associates back to Russia where they faced persecution. He described Kirillov as a “harmless” advocate of free love swept up by intrigue through his association with a social media provocateur named Anastasia Vashukevich.

The pair have caused a stir in Russia with a member of the State Duma saying the should “rot in a Thai prison” following revelations about her involvement with a Russian oligarch and deputy premier mixed up in the American investigation into election meddling.

At Government House, junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha met with Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Russia’s national security council. Patrushev has a long history in Russian intelligence, having served as director of the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, from 1999 to 2008 before taking his current post.

Though the details of their closed-door meeting were not disclosed, a Government House statement said they discussed a variety of anodyne topics including cooperation in tourism, business, cyber security and the security of Russian tourists. Patrushev has been engaged in shuttle diplomacy, traveling extensively in a bid to bolster the federation’s security partnerships, according to news reports.

Khaosod English saw the original handwritten letter by Kirillov on Tuesday night in Pattaya after Yunko briefly entered a conference room where the 10 Russian detainees were being held. Thai officials thought he was their lawyer and quickly pulled him out of the room.

After confiscating the letter, they later relented upon realizing they had a potentially explosive politically charged case on their hands.

“I have been repressed by Russia because I was participated [sic] in Navalny research. Based on our video he made the research about the connections between deputy minister [Sergei Prikhodko] and oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and had communication about US Relations with russia,” it reads. “Because of this a big political scandal appears and we run out of Russia [sic] to Thailand.”

The letter says they will trade further information Vashukevich gained from her relationship with Deripaska and association with Deputy Premier Prikhodko.

“We asked you political asylim [sic] sick and help us and protect us as quickly as possible, because we have very important information for USA and we risk our lifes [sic] very much,” it reads.

The letter continues to say they have “photo-video-audio of crymes [sic] of Russian government” obtained during Vashukevich’s one-year relationship with Deripaska.

“And I give them USA if you help us. … I asked protection from USA for this people,” it closes, followed by the signatures of Kirillov, Vashukevich and the eight others held by Thai immigration.

Full text of the letter unedited as written:

To USA Consul:

From Aleksandr Kirillov (Alex Lesley)

I have been repressed by Russia because I was participated in Navalny research. Based on our video he made the research about the connections between deputy minister Prikodko and oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and had communication about US Relations with Russia. Becauise of this a big political scandal appears and we run out of Russia to Thailand. But in Thailand we were catched by Thai police and now they want to send us back to Russia. We ask you political asylim and help us and protect us as quickly as possible, because we have very important information for USA and we risk our lives very much. Now I send to you this letter.

miss Nastya Rybka (Anastasiya Vashukievich…) was mistress Oleg Deripaska. He meet with him during one year and we have photo-video-audio of crymes of Russian goverment. And I give them USA if you help us. Now they send us to another prison. My friends know it and control everything. I ask protection from USA for this people:

Alex Lesley Aleksandr Kirillov
Anastasiya Vashukievich (Nastya Rybka)
Andrew Zheshko
Vadim Nehoca
Maria Zhankova
Anton Fabritsy
Diana Simook
Igor Kucheriavenko
Denis Kozlov
Alexander Martishov

1 of 2

Additional reporting Teeranai Charuvastra

Update: This article has been updated with a response from the Russian Embassy’s consular section.

Suthep Says He’s Done With Politics, Puts Kibosh on Rumors

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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28 February 2018, 14:09

Suthep Thaugsuban talks to reporters Tuesday outside a court in Bangkok

BANGKOK — Suthep Thaugsuban has been a lot of things in recent years: Democrat MP, street protest leader, monk and, most recently, head of a charity. But there’s one career he said he would never take up again: politician.

On Tuesday the 68 year old put to rest speculation that he was on the verge of announcing pro-junta a political party, insisting that he’s done with parliamentary politics for the rest of his life but remains loyal to the military regime.

“I will not run in election for a Member of Parliament seat. I do want any political office. I will not join any government with anyone. I will not be a prime minister, not a deputy prime minister, not a minister,” Suthep told reporters. “I will not even be an executive of any party.”

Suthep, a divisive figure with a long history in Thai power politics, said he’s approaching the last stage of his life – he confided that he wishes to die by 80, as the Buddha did – and wants to spend his remaining years heading his charity foundation.

“For the rest of my life, I will dedicate it to serving the monarchy, the holy religion and the people in any way I can,” Suthep said. “I will not return to politics.”

He added that he remains a supporter of junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha as the country leader and reiterated his support for “reforms” to be implemented before the next election, which has been postponed to take place in February 2019.

Suthep spoke after a court found him not guilty of defaming his political rivals, Redshirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua, in 2011. Suthep at the time accused the group of engineering arson attacks on state buildings during a political unrest a year earlier.

Policeman Files Complaint Against Activist for Using Anecdote to Promote Book

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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28 February 2018, 12:49

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal hands deputy police commissioner Srivara Ransibrahmanakul two of his books: Messages to Our Century: Three Essays of Isaiah Berlin and A Book for the Future of Thai Education. Photo: Netiwit Ntw / Facebook

BANGKOK — A police commissioner on Tuesday filed a complaint against a famous student activist for allegedly using a false anecdote about him to promote the sale of a book he translated.

The Royal Thai Police on Wednesday said deputy police commissioner Srivara Ransibrahmanakul had filed a complaint against Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal for allegedly using a false anecdote about him to promote his translation of works by late philosopher Isaiah Berlin.

“I didn’t think it would be damaging. It even makes him look good, like an intelligent police officer,” Netiwit said by phone Wednesday. “Usually he gets berated by society all the time. I was surprised he would do this after I made him look good.”

Netiwit said one of the policemen told him Srivara had read the book, “Messages to Our Century: Three Essays of Isaiah Berlin” – which contains three works the student and his classmates translated – and had told his officers to read it. He said he was surprised to be accused of defamation and breaching the Computer Crime Act.

Netiwit’s post on Monday said multiple police officers had called him to order the book on Srivara’s recommendation that “this is a good book, guys. Do you have it yet?”

Police said that Srivara had not read the book and would not tolerate his name being used on grounds that he was unaware of the content.

“[Srivara] didn’t say any of that. He just kept the book and didn’t read it. He never talked about it in the meeting,” Col. Olan Sukkasem of the Technology Crime Police said by phone Wednesday. “It’s wrong because it defames him. We don’t know if what’s in that book is good or bad so he can’t just be used to promote the book,” he said, adding that people could be driven to purchase the book because Srivara is a figure of authority.

Olan said Srivara met Netiwit on Feb. 8 when student activists and other demonstrators heard charges against them at Pathum Wan Police Station. Netiwit later posted a photo of himself handing Srivara the book.

“He even asked me to sign the book for him. Then I joked that he was funding me, and he said that selling books was an honest way to do so. I thought that he would actually read it,” Netiwit said.

Isaiah Berlin was a 20th century philosopher and political theorist.

Thorn in the Pillar: Freshman Makes Enemies Upsetting Tradition. Allies Too.

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

By

Todd Ruiz, Editor

-

28 February 2018, 12:46

Top: Anastasia Vashukevich, at center, and two unidentified Russian women in custody Tuesday in Pattaya. Photo: Nastya_rybka.ru / Instagram

By Todd Ruiz and Teeranai Charuvastra

PATTAYA — A Russian woman in Thai custody says she will trade dirt on Russian interference in the 2016 US election if the Americans can prevent her from being deported to Russia.

Anastasia Vashukevich, whose affair with a married Russian oligarch caught up in the investigation into Russian election meddling has inflamed the Kremlin, told Khaosod English she has first-hand knowledge to trade – if the Americans can help keep them out of Russian hands.

Vashukevich was arrested Sunday in Pattaya where she was participating in an “advanced sex” class with a Russian libertine known as Aleksandr Kirillov, whose persona online is Alexander Lesley. Eight other Russians were arrested along with them and charged with working without permission. One was charged for overstaying their visa.

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

They fled Russia three weeks ago when Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny published the salacious details of Vashukevich’s affair – as she detailed on Instagram – with billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

Cells holding the Russian suspects on Tuesday at the Pattaya Provincial Court. Photo: Todd Ruiz — Cells holding the Russian suspects
on Tuesday at the Pattaya Provincial
Court. Photo: Todd Ruiz

Within hours of Navalny’s video being published, which also showed photographs of a Russian deputy prime minister on a pleasure cruise with Deripaska and Vashukevich, a Russian court ordered the video banned along with most of Navalny’s websites.

Russia has threatened to ban YouTube and Instagram if all of the content is not removed.

In an exclusive interview with Khaosod English, Kirillov said they have specific additional information about Russian meddling they will trade in return for American protection.

“Russia wants us back because of what we know, because of Navalny,” Kirillov said.

Deripaska was close to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who faces a growing list of charges brought by special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling and seems intent on flipping Manafort. Manafort insists he is innocent.

Update: Russians Offering US Election Secrets For American Protection Moved to Bangkok

The deputy premier on the boat was Sergei Prikhodko, who weighs heavily on Russian foreign policy and is accused of taking bribes from Deripaska. Deripaska offered to testify about Russian meddling in May last year in return for full immunity from the US Congress – which turned him down.

‘Alex Lesley’ and other suspects are questioned
by police Sunday at Pattaya City Police Station.

“[Anastasia] was with Deripaska and [Sergei] Prikhodko. We’re asking for political asylum because the Russians want to get us back and put in jail [sic],” Kirillov said.

The 10 Russians were taken to the Pattaya Provincial Court on Tuesday afternoon for a custody hearing. Although they’d been told to expect to be released on bail, the court ordered they be held.

Police outside the court said the word had come from Bangkok: The Russians’ stay was revoked, and they were to be deported home. Guards outside the courtroom were astonished by the large turnout of more than 20 regular and immigration police officers who showed up to escort them away.

“Why do we need so many cops? Are we bringing in Khun Sa?” a court security officer said, referring to a late, legendary Burmese drug lord.

Read: Pattaya Cops Crash Sex Class by Russian ‘Sex Guru’ and ‘Oligarch Hunter’

Khaosod English reporters followed the police convoy to the local immigration bureau, where the Russians attempted to secret out a letter to an associate that was intercepted by immigration police.

A copy of the letter was later obtained by Khaosod English and is being transcribed.

The Russian Embassy in Bangkok declined to answer questions about the story. A man who answered the phone said he could not comment on the case.

Alexander Kirillov is led out from Pattaya's immigration offices Tuesday night to be taken to a detention center. Photo: Teeranai Charuvastra — Alexander Kirillov is led from
Pattaya’s immigration offices Tuesday
night to be taken to a detention
center. Photo: Teeranai Charuvastra

A US Embassy spokeswoman said the Russians could reach out for help “through the appropriate channels.”

Although it’s impossible to verify their claims, dismissing the Russians as self-promoting opportunists is complicated by the furious reaction from Moscow, which moved to shut down most of Navalny’s online presence and made his video illegal for Russians to watch. The media there is closely following the story of Vashukevich and Kirillov in Thailand as well.

On Tuesday, Vitaly Milonov, a member of the State Duma, said Kirillov and all arrested with him should be punished to the utmost in Thailand.

“If possible, he should not be released. I hope he stays in the scariest Thai prison, lying with rotting worms because he is evil. He broke the law with his psychotic actions. If Russia cannot contain this person, then let him rot in a Thai prison,” Milonov told Russia’s Channel 5.

Milonov went on to say that all the people attending Lesley’s classes should also be prosecuted without aid from a lawyer.

Listen: Hear a Detailed and Entertaining Account of Our Report For This Story

“All of them are stupid and crazy, low-class prostitutes. Don’t let them use a lawyer no matter what circumstances. The prosecutors should check them for drugs and act on them according to Thai law,” Milonov said.

As of last night, the Russians were due to be taken to an immigration detention center.

Some of the 20-plus immigration and regular police officers who showed up in unusual force to escort the Russians on Tuesday afternoon from the Pattaya Pronvicial Court. Photo: Todd Ruiz — Some of the 20-plus immigration
and regular police officers who
showed up in unusual force to
escort the Russians on Tuesday afternoon
from the Pattaya Pronvicial Court. Photo: Todd Ruiz

Chonburi immigration commander Songpoad Sirisuka said their stay in Thailand was revoked because they were caught working without a permit. He said the “immoral” nature of their work was also part of the consideration.

Working without permit in Thailand is punishable by up to five years in prison, but the court typically suspends the sentence, clearing way for authorities to deport the convicted foreigners immediately.

Their lawyer Thana Siwadonwanit protested the decision, saying it’s unusual suspects accused of immigration violations have their stay revoked as fast.

“Bullshit!” Thana shouted when he first heard about the order Tuesday night.

He elaborated on Wednesday morning that his clients have the right to a fair trial, and their visas should only be repealed if they are found guilty. Thana also suspected that police might have a hidden agenda behind taking immediate action against the group.

“The law has been used up to what they wish. They are now revoking visas without valid reasons,” Thana said. “I want to know what reason they really gave. I haven’t seen the actual document yet.”

This is a developing story.

Additional reporting Asaree Thaitrakulpanich

1. Настя Рыбка заболела в тюрьме. 2 суток на холодном полу. Кровати нет. Врача не предоставляют. 3. Сегодня был суд. По суду выпустили под залог 6 человек включая Алекса Лесли и Андрея Покера. Они были счастливые с алексом и остальными. Их из суда свободных перевезли в иммиграцию. И в иммиграции сообщили что после суда несмотря на залог их лишили тайских виз. Так, Заплатив за каждого ололо ста тыс бати они получили 10 минут свободы при перевозке из одной тюрьмы в другую. Суд разрешил выйти под залог !!! Но видимо кто то спровоцировал тайскую иммиграцию лишить всех виз за несколько минут! В суде вины своей они не признали. Вина доказана не была. По статусу они должны были быть свободными ведь они невиновны и под залогом. 3. Теперь их держат в условиях ещё хуже. Бетонный пол. Нет кроватей. Еда только то что принесут. Врача к Насте не вызвали. Она отморозила почки похоже. Состояние очень плохое. По данным наших очевидцев кто то из русского консульства воздействовал на тайскую полицию. Настя рассказала что в тюрьме приходил человек от консульства и говорил насте и алексу что лучше им признать вину и лететь срочно в Россию. Настя считает что Россия стремится чтобы она сгнила в тайских тюрьмах из-за дела Навального и из-за интервью которое она давала журналисту НБС но оно ещё не вышло, если что то случиться с ней она сказала обратиться к нбс по поводу ее интервью. Пишем как есть с ее слов. Телефонов для связи у ребят нет. Настя думает, что все это из-за ее интервью и свидетельств по поводу дела Навального, и интервью журналистам США о том разговоре на яхте(записано со слов рыбки). Настя сегодня, пока ее перевозили из тюрьмы в тюрьму сумела одолжить телефон, провести трансляцию. Ей передали слова что депутаты гос думы хотят чтобы она сгнила в тюрьме в Тайланде, она ответила что – тех кто этого хочет возможно не любят женщины, желать зла любому человеку очень низко для госдумы РФ. И эти люди ее позорят. Настя официально через свою страницу в Инстаграмм попросила США о помощи выбраться из этой ситуации. И предоставить защиту и политическое убежище 10 репрессируемым членам команды которых Россия достала в Тайланде Просьба распространить слова Насти Рыбки

A post shared by Настя Рыбка (@nastya_rybka.ru) on Feb 27, 2018 at 6:10am PST

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