Sergey Lavrov, the acting Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, was warmly received at Phuket International Airport by a welcoming committee spearheaded by Amnuay Pinsuwan, Phuket’s Vice Governor.

 

Lavrov’s visit is labelled by expectation as he lands on Thai soil to inaugurate the already functioning Russian consulate at Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew, despite the absence of further details about his trip. His tenure as Foreign Minister, dating back to 2004, crowns him the longest-serving diplomat since the Tsarist times, even outliving any Soviet-era foreign minister’s terms.

 

His presence on the Thai island traces back to an apparent surge in the influx of Russian tourists and residents making themselves home in Phuket. As stated by the Ministry of Tourism & Sports, within the span of the first five months of this year, Thailand has received 740,840 visits from Russian nationals.

Whereas Phuket alone witnessed the entry of 25,947 Russian visitors this June, a minor 2.6% dip from ay’s 26,624 visitors, reported Phuket Immigration. These figures put Russian arrivals as the second highest to visit Phuket in the past month, superseded only by Chinese, recording 44,066 arrivals in June which is a significant 16.4% hike from May.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Image courtesy of The Phuket News

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/russian-foreign-minister-arrivese-in-phuket

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-17

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

In other news, 25,947 Russian tourists mysteriously fled Phuket on Saturday, the day before his arrival.

TAT expects a record influx of Russian tourists once the Foreign Ministers plane departs.????????

Perhaps some Ukrainian tourists can give him a warm welcome!

Scumbag.

 

Welcomed by the vice-governor huh. Probably meant as an insult, but he should have been welcomed by an immigration sub-lieutenant telling him to turn back to Russia.

 

I see he has some really important things to do. Inaugurating a consulate.

 

I wonder who he is secretly meeting with.

This is the guy threatening the west with tactical nukes. 

Is he doing this to intimidate Russian refugees fleeing forced military service? Methinks so.

Nice one Thailand ....you sure pick your friends. One great democracy greets another.

Anything for an odd Baht. Just keep those Russkies coming and to heck with your butchery in Ukraine. 

 

This guy is the side kick of that vile piece of, you know what. A cold heartless machine that spews out Putins commands.

Personally I can't stand the sight of him. 

49 minutes ago, tgw said:

wonder who he is secretly meeting with.

Already sorted on Thai Friendly .... 

6 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

Nice one Thailand ....you sure pick your friends. One great democracy greets another.

Anything for an odd Baht. Just keep those Russkies coming and to heck with your butchery in Ukraine. 

 

This guy is the side kick of that vile piece of, you know what. A cold heartless machine that spews out Putins commands.

Personally I can't stand the sight of him. 

Wow you really have been red pilled mopping up that western propaganda like a sponge. 

5 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

Nice one Thailand ....you sure pick your friends. One great democracy greets another.

Anything for an odd Baht. Just keep those Russkies coming and to heck with your butchery in Ukraine. 

 

This guy is the side kick of that vile piece of, you know what. A cold heartless machine that spews out Putins commands.

Personally I can't stand the sight of him. 

Really, I feel sad that Thailand is actually receiving this scumbag as a dignitary. Thailand needs to go back to a democratic government ASP!

3 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

Yes, many Ukrainians forced into military service because their country was invaded by Russia.

They are forced to fight for their country. What a disgrace!

Just about sums up Thailand for me, welcoming this scumbag, ''its all about the money and nothing else matters''

I really want to see Thailand with the same global ban as Russia, if Thailand will continue to support those war criminals.

He is here to offer the sudden influx of  long term male Russian tourists well paid jobs in canned meat factories in a neighboring country. With great pension and life insurance benefits.

A red carpet for one of the world’s most evil people. Shame Thailand, shame. I feel ill just looking at his mug. The world will be an immensely better place when he goes. 

45 minutes ago, Bim Smith said:

There is no forced military service in Russia only Ukraine 

If that were true - there would be no war in Ukraine.

41 minutes ago, anyone said:

They are forced to fight for their country. What a disgrace!

Good try at twisting my words to suit your message, you must work for the Russian propaganda ministry? 

Thailand is part of Russia's global south strategy on their genocidal war of choice.

Lavorov doesn't make policy but he has been a respectable foreign minister in the past. That has changed as the policy he needs to defend has become so evil. 

 

He is merely on a "fact finding trip". It will be interesting to see what facts he can find and how he reports them to the short guy.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

His presence on the Thai island traces back to an apparent surge in the influx of Russian tourists and residents making themselves home in Phuket. As stated by the Ministry of Tourism & Sports, within the span of the first five months of this year, Thailand has received 740,840 visits from Russian nationals.

TAT still believes they all came because of the pristine beaches and Phad Thai.

“Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are."

Other than China, no other country in world wants anything to do with Russia, dose Thailand has an ulterior motive to red carpet a representative of a country who bombs and kills dozen of people on a daily bases and actually want to take their country from them?

 

He’s looking for deserters unwilling to kill and die for mad dog Putin unfortunately I’m sure there are rats in the Russian diaspora ratting out names rite now to this criminal sad ???? 

Well done Thailand, you know who are the real evil forces.

Thailand seems to be full of scumbag politicians putting tourism above Ukranian lives. Land Of Shame

He's here checking on his investments, 

Wtf

Is that scumbag doing here! 

Well done Thailand welcoming the dregs of society 

1 hour ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Is he doing this to intimidate Russian refugees fleeing forced military service? Methinks so.

Annexing the island and renaming it Little Russia?

Just now, wombat said:

Annexing the island and renaming it Little Russia?

Already is, around Rawai there is whole community of them, school and a language school take a look at Rawai water park it's like little Moscow and certain condo projects, 

Why was this cretin permitted to land in Thailand?

Maybe he is there to visit his LDR Girlfriend.