Russia Advises Citizens Wanted in U.S. Against Visiting Thailand

June 12, 2026 Denis Voronin / Moskva News Agency Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned its citizens on Friday to avoid traveling to Thailand due to the threat of being arrested at the request of the United States. “We strongly advise Russian citizens who have even the slightest reason to suspect they might be subject to criminal prosecution by U.S. authorities to entirely refrain from traveling to Thailand,” the ministry said, adding that layovers at local airports are also inadvisable. Washington and Bangkok share a bilateral extradition treaty. The advisory comes on the same week as suspected Russian hacker Denis Obrezko made his initial appearance in U.S. court after being arrested in Thailand last November. Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed Washington’s “punitive justice system” has intensified since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. It warned Russians that they risk being targeted “without even realizing it” due to sweeping U.S. sanctions targeting individuals and entities. The ministry claimed U.S. intelligence agencies “ignore” Thai authorities when carrying out sting operations against Russian citizens. “Sadly, this friendly country that’s incredibly popular with Russian tourists remains one of the primary locations where Washington has rolled out a literal ‘hunt’ for Russian nationals,” the ministry said. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) maintained that Russian tour operators have not run into arrests while vacationing in Thailand. “Citizens who are aware of potential legal claims against their activities by third countries would be wise to follow the Russian Foreign Ministry’s recommendations,” ATOR told the state-run TASS news agency. More than 1.8 million Russians vacation in Thailand every year. Read more about: Foreign Ministry , Thailand Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow Warns Against ‘Chaos’ in Serbia Amid Protests Serbian protesters have regularly taken to the streets since the deadly collapse of a train station roof in November. 1 Min read Telegram Founder Durov ‘Not Interested’ in Talking With Russian Officials, Envoy Says “The French treat Durov’s case as one between their state and a citizen,” Russian Ambassador Alexei Meshkov told state media. 1 Min read Russia Condemns Lebanon Pager Blasts, Warns of Worsening Tensions "The region itself is in an explosive situation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Every incident like this has the potential to be a trigger." 1 Min read opinion Vladimir Frolov How Terror Attacks Gift Russia Foreign Policy Opportunity Russia has waged a war on terror at home and abroad. But when Moscow calls for joining forces with the West to combat global terrorism, it inevitably pursues...