Picture courtesy of SiamChon

A Russian woman has travelled to Pattaya to search for her missing son after losing contact with him and fearing he may have been abducted and harmed. Miss Olga, aged 51, said her 30-year-old son, Mr Mikhail Emelianov, disappeared on 7 January 2026 along with USD 10,000, causing severe distress and prompting a police investigation in Thailand.

Miss Olga spoke to reporters through an interpreter at 00.15 on 14 January 2026, explaining that she flew from Russia to Pattaya after being unable to reach her son. She has already filed a missing person report with Pattaya City Police, handled by Pol Lt Col Ittikorn Saikratok, deputy superintendent at Pattaya City Police Station, but said there has been no significant progress so far.

According to information relayed by the interpreter, Mr Mikhail had been living and doing business in Pattaya for about two years. On the last day they spoke, he told his mother he was anxious about meeting two Russian men to negotiate a cannabis-related business deal. He reportedly said he felt the men were dangerous and that the situation could put him at risk.

On the morning of 7 January, Mr Mikhail shared his live location with his mother while travelling in Pattaya. Later that day, he contacted her again to say he was going to Bangkok with the same two Russian men and felt unsafe. He warned her that if she could not contact him for more than two hours, it would mean he was in danger and she should immediately inform the police.

After contact was lost, Mr Mikhail’s friends attempted to look for him at a cannabis shop where he was a business partner. There, they reportedly saw the two Russian men he had mentioned earlier and said the men were in possession of Mr Mikhail’s mobile phone. Mr Mikhail himself was not present and his friends did not approach the men because they believed they were dangerous.

Miss Olga also revealed that her son had previously asked her for USD 10,000 to invest in his business, and she does not know where the money is now. She said she is unaware of any other specific disputes that might have led to his disappearance. She has provided police with photographs and CCTV footage showing the last known images of her son before he went missing.

Police have accepted the report and are continuing to gather evidence and information. Miss Olga has appealed to authorities to urgently locate her son, saying delays could place him in further danger. She has also asked anyone with information about Mr Mikhail’s whereabouts to contact the police immediately.

Key Takeaways

• A Russian man, Mr Mikhail Emelianov, 30, has been missing since 7 January 2026 in Pattaya.

• His mother believes he may have been abducted after meeting two Russian men over a business deal.

• Pattaya police are investigating, and the family has appealed for public assistance.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from SiamChon 2026-01-14

 

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Police have accepted the report and are continuing to gather evidence and information.

How kind of them.

Why would he engage if he knew they were potentially dangerous?
Desperation.

At least take some precautions. Meet in cafes with cameras ...

Don't do drugs, avoid people who do, problem solved.

Hmmm. Wonder if there was an insurance policy on him.

Darwin wins again. Potential Investor meeting known shady and dangerous men, alerts mom. Then again alerts mom he's gonna travel with the dangerous men and to call the police if not heard from for 2 hours? I guess its true, you cant fix stupid.

So the two men had his phone after he disappeard.Easy to know who probably took his life.Russian scumbags.

Business meeting? sounds more like a drug deal. Either they robbed and killed or kidnapped him, or he's running a scam on his mom and disappeared with her money.

Great career move. Opening a cannabis shop in Thailand. What can go wrong?

9 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Business meeting? sounds more like a drug deal. Either they robbed and killed or kidnapped him, or he's running a scam on his mom and disappeared with her money.

Must admit I thought the sam was likely when reading the OP.

I'm very sad... 😁

Another " Pablo Escobar" from Siberia disappear.

What is wrong on this? It's normal mafia style

20 hours ago, norsurin said:

So the two men had his phone after he disappeard.Easy to know who probably took his life.Russian scumbags.

Stricter visa policy is required!

How do they stay here for 2 years? DTV ? Or did he get a drug dealer work permit?

So here for two years and running a biz....interesting to know how and what kind of visa he got .

You mess with the Russian mob, you can expect some trouble.

You mess with a Babushka and your in deep poop.

Anyone carrying 10k USD is going to attract a lot of attention in Thailand, both from locals and foreigners.

asked her for USD 10,000 to invest in his business, and she does not know where the money is now!

🤔 up in smoke!

On 1/14/2026 at 9:06 AM, save the frogs said:

Why would he engage if he knew they were potentially dangerous?
Desperation.

At least take some precautions. Meet in cafes with cameras ...

Exactly what I was thinking. Either take precautions, or better still don't do it.

Why associate with people you think are dangerous? Dumb

On the last day they spoke, he told his mother he was anxious about meeting two Russian men to negotiate a cannabis-related business deal. He reportedly said he felt the men were dangerous and that the situation could put him at risk.

Seems he went anyway.... oh dear.

So sad, but a lack of critical thinking skills can lead to some serious outcome.

20 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Stricter visa policy is required!

Russians do better than most under a reciprocal policy.

Russian owner of a cannabis shop..............must be some fat envelopes going upstairs to let that fly.