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Russia Warns Citizens About Travel to Thailand

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Thailand if they believe they could face criminal prosecution by US authorities, citing the risk of arrest and extradition under agreements between Bangkok and Washington.

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The warning, issued on Friday, 12 June, advises Russian nationals who have any reason to suspect they may be subject to US criminal proceedings to refrain from travelling to Thailand altogether. The ministry also cautioned against transiting through Thai airports.

According to The Moscow Times, the warning relates to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and Thailand. The advisory comes in the same week that Russian hacker suspect Denis Obrezkov appeared before a US court after being arrested in Thailand in November last year.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed that Washington has intensified its use of what it described as a punitive justice system since Russia launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine four years ago.

In its statement, the ministry warned that Russian citizens could become targets “without prior knowledge” due to extensive US sanctions imposed on individuals and legal entities. It also alleged that US intelligence agencies often disregard Thai authorities when conducting sting operations aimed at Russian nationals.

The ministry described Thailand as one of the main locations where Washington pursues Russian citizens abroad, despite the country’s popularity among Russian tourists. It stated that the “friendly country”, which attracts large numbers of Russian visitors each year, remains a key destination for such operations.

However, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said no Russian tour operators or clients have been arrested while conducting tours in Thailand.

ATOR added that Russian citizens who are aware they may face legal action from third countries because of their activities would be wise to follow the Foreign Ministry’s advice.

The warning could have some impact on Thailand’s tourism sector. More than 1.8 million Russian visitors travel to Thailand annually, making Russia one of the country’s important tourism source markets.

Manager Online reported that as of now, there has been no public response from Thai authorities regarding the advisory. Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether the warning affects Russian travel demand to Thailand in the coming months.

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 16 June 2026

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redwood1 Ruby Member

redwood1

Advanced Member

About time to throw the Ruskies in jail...Because? well, just because...

Patong2021 Diamond Member

Patong2021

Advanced Member
42 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

About time to throw the Ruskies in jail...Because? well, just because...

The UK nationals present a greater likelihood of lawlessness. What then?

J Branche Gold Member

J Branche

Advanced Member

Okay. Now we know the Russian Embassy finally read the Memo that Anutin is cracking down on scams, crimes, and banking shenanigans used by criminal networks.

Just be like 99.9% of the other Russians with families that wanted to escape the War Nonsense and raise a family in an affordable, safe, and warm climate.

ronster Gold Member

ronster

Advanced Member

Pretty sure those who wanted , needed or could afford to leave for Thailand would have done so a few years ago .

mushroomdave Silver Member

mushroomdave

Advanced Member

Wow, a dream come true.

Quietness in Pattaya maybe!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

ronnie50 Platinum Member

ronnie50

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The warning, issued on Friday, 12 June, advises Russian nationals who have any reason to suspect they may be subject to US criminal proceedings to refrain from travelling to Thailand altogether. The ministry also cautioned against transiting through Thai airports.

In any case, Thailand is better off without them. I doubt it would even put a dent in the overall number of Russian tourists.

Purdey Diamond Member

Purdey

Advanced Member

Many countries have extradition agreements with the USA. The article gives one example but it doesn't mean dozens of extraditions have taken place.

Perhaps the Russians are trying to persuade their citizens to take a break in Ukraine instead.

expat_4_life Silver Member

expat_4_life

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The ministry described Thailand as one of the main locations where Washington pursues Russian citizens abroad, despite the country’s popularity among Russian tourists. It stated that the “friendly country”, which attracts large numbers of Russian visitors each year, remains a key destination for such operations.

The Russian Foreign ministry issuing such a warning (there can't be many Russians it affects) raises my eyebrows and makes me wonder - Who fell victim to arrest/extradition? ... must be someone important !!

kenconagasaki Rookie Member

kenconagasaki

Member
1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

The UK nationals present a greater likelihood of lawlessness. What then?

Think you're maybe confused with the level of lawlessness !

wensiensheng Platinum Member

wensiensheng

Advanced Member
58 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

The Russian Foreign ministry issuing such a warning (there can't be many Russians it affects) raises my eyebrows and makes me wonder - Who fell victim to arrest/extradition? ... must be someone important !!

This guy is mentioned in the OP.

“The advisory comes in the same week that Russian hacker suspect Denis Obrezkov appeared before a US court after being arrested in Thailand in November last year.”

crazykopite Platinum Member

crazykopite

Advanced Member

There are 1,000s over here all dodging the draft and I can’t blame them

BerndD Silver Member

BerndD

Advanced Member

Best idea from the Russian Foreign Ministry in a long time!

I love it!

Srikcir Ruby Member

Srikcir

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Many countries have extradition agreements with the US

116 countries have bilateral or multilateral treaties to facilitate these arrests and transfers.

Thailand holds specific bilateral extradition treaties with 14 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, and South Korea.

Russians are not being singled out by Thailand.

barmatt Advanced Member

barmatt

Member

Send Putin to Thailand 😄

ArchieBunker Senior Member

ArchieBunker

Member

Shouldn’t Thailand be warning its own citizens about Russians travel to Thailand? I haven’t read many good things about their stay here.

ronnie50 Platinum Member

ronnie50

Advanced Member

There are crooks, foreign mafia, gang members, etc., from many countries living in Thailand. Maybe Russia's Ministry was given a list of Russians the US is seeking/planning to extradite from Thailand (who are already here) and this was Moscow's way of telling them to head for the hills.

Rinato Senior Member

Rinato

Member

The warning is regarding just Russians that have done something harmful to USA.

Meaning maybe 0.1% of Russians coming to Thailand.

So you won't see much difference in their arrivals here

ronnie50 Platinum Member

ronnie50

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Thailand holds specific bilateral extradition treaties with 14 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, and South Korea.

It would be interesting to see how many extraditions from Thailand have taken place to those countries in recent years. There is the Uyghur case sent back to China a few years ago. Then there was the Thai-Indian banker who fled to Canada but was eventually sent back to Thailand. Those are two high profile cases. But only ones that come to mind.

spidermike007 Star Member

spidermike007

Advanced Member

I have been told by Russians that as many as 90% of their population earning over $75,000 a year are involved in crime. There are likely and enormous number of Russian criminals in Thailand and it's very likely that the Russian government knows that and wants to avoid egg on their faces, it's quite obvious they have very little regard for their own citizens.

daveAustin Diamond Member

daveAustin

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, kenconagasaki said:

Think you're maybe confused with the level of lawlessness !

The guy is confused full stop, one of those troll things probably. Someone tell them it’s not UK nationals trying to eradicate another country… for a change.

daveAustin Diamond Member

daveAustin

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I have been told by Russians that as many as 90% of their population earning over $75,000 a year are involved in crime. There are likely and enormous number of Russian criminals in Thailand and it's very likely that the Russian government knows that and wants to avoid egg on their faces, it's quite obvious they have very little regard for their own citizens.

Yeah, this. They could not give a monkey’s about their people… over one million already through the meat grinder in Ukraine. Likely all about face as you say. Suits me though if they would just all FO out of Thai… perhaps the plethora of Chinese boiler room crooks will follow them.

Geoff914 Gold Member

Geoff914

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

It would be interesting to see how many extraditions from Thailand have taken place to those countries in recent years. There is the Uyghur case sent back to China a few years ago. Then there was the Thai-Indian banker who fled to Canada but was eventually sent back to Thailand. Those are two high profile cases. But only ones that come to mind.

What crime did the Uyghurs commit? Aren't Thailand obliged to help refugees?

robert2 Senior Member

robert2

Member

Russians should have no problems in Thailand unless they break the law.

ujay Apprentice Member

ujay

Member

Yes, dear Ruski friends, stay home... thanks a lot🙏

BexMan Advanced Member

BexMan

Member

The US trial timing a bit awkward for Anutin. He’s currently in Russia looking to secure energy and food deals with Russia. Also looking to make banking and travel easier for Russians coming to Thailand. Unfortunately, if anything, expect more Russians, not less. 😪

Maejo Man Platinum Member

Maejo Man

Advanced Member

However, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said no Russian tour operators or clients have been arrested while conducting tours in Thailand.

So they are admitting that they use Russian tour operators!!!

unblocktheplanet Diamond Member

unblocktheplanet

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, Rinato said:

The warning is regarding just Russians that have done something harmful to USA.

Meaning maybe 0.1% of Russians coming to Thailand.

So you won't see much difference in their arrivals here

Absolutely not true. The USA is king of setting people up. Viktor Bout never did harm to any Americans. Yet he was extradited anyway. 35 years but only did ? before a prisoner exchange.

geisha Platinum Member

geisha

Advanced Member

Comrades, please listen to your government and stay away.

Keeps Platinum Member

Keeps

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, Rinato said:

The warning is regarding just Russians that have done something harmful to USA.

Meaning maybe 0.1% of Russians coming to Thailand.

So you won't see much difference in their arrivals here

That would be an incredibly high number of Russians residing in Thailand having done something harmful to the USA. Unless my maths are off, that equates to one in every 1,000 up to no good to the detriment of the USA. Really?

Not that I give a toss either way.

Ctkong Silver Member

Ctkong

Advanced Member
35 minutes ago, Maejo Man said:

However, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said no Russian tour operators or clients have been arrested while conducting tours in Thailand.

So they are admitting that they use Russian tour operators!!!

I understand foreign tour operator can lead a tour if they employ a local tour guide to lead the tour with the foreign guide acting as an interpreter or liaison .

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