Thailand arrests 10 Russians over intimate training course

Thai police arrested 10 Russians who allegedly organised “sex training” courses for their compatriots in the seaside resort city of Pattaya.

Officers said 33 Russian tourists attended the class held at a hotel. Ten instructors were detained on Sunday on immigration charges, including working without a permit.

“The hotel management said they had no details on the event but they booked it for a seminar and training,” said Pattaya tourist police official Piyapong Ensarn.

“Some participants told police that they had to pay 20,000 baht [Dh2,340], but some said they attended for free.”

One of the suspects, Alexander Kirilov, 38, was described as an organiser by the police. Officers found white T-shirts printed with the words “sex animator” and certificates for course participants.

Pattaya, two hours from Bangkok, emerged as a party destination during the Vietnam War when it attracted American GIs on leave. Its sex tourism industry thrives despite prostitution being illegal in Thailand and occasional crackdowns on the trade by authorities.

But Thailand is sensitive about its reputation. Yesterday, officials said they had sent a letter of protest to Gambia’s government after its tourism minister reportedly described the kingdom as a sex tourism destination.

Pattaya police officers found printed white T-shirts and certificates for the participants