‘ Sex coaches’ claiming Trump’s secrets plead for US help
◗ The pair has been detained by Thai police who raided their ‘ sex training course’ in Pattaya in February
Pattaya, April 17: A Belarusian model and Russian “sex coach” pleaded for US help as they arrived for a court hearing in Thailand on Tuesday, in a case that has grabbed widespread attention after the model made cryptic claims to have revelations about alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.
Anastasia Vashukevich, known by her pen name Nastya Rybka, and selfstyled sex guru Alexander Kirillov have been detained since they and eight other foreigners were arrested in February by Thai police who raided their “sex training course” in the seaside city of Pattaya.
They were initially charged with lacking a work permit, but are now facing additional charges of soliciting prostitution and criminal association, according to Apichai Krobpetch, Pattaya’s police chief.
Reporters were barred from observing the hearing on Tuesday. The pair, who are embroiled in a political scandal back in Russia, made international headlines after Vashukevich offered to reveal secrets to American journalists in a video posted on Instagram shortly after their arrest in Pattaya.
“They are trying to put us behind bars... That is why I am ready to tell you about all those missing puzzle pieces that you lacked... Regarding a link between our esteemed lawmakers and ( Paul) Manafort, Trump and all this brouhaha, the US elections,” she said in the video.
The model, who has written a book about seducing oligarchs, has not substantiated her claims but does have links to Russia’s elite.
She and Kirillov are facing a lawsuit in Russia over footage which Vashukevich filmed purporting to show an influential deputy prime minister, Sergei Prikhodko, enjoying lavish hospitality on a yacht owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska.
The video went viral after it was published by top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in February.