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. Get today's headlines by email 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 had 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. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 16 June 2026
View full article
