Thai media reported on August 2nd that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his deepest condolences to the families of 2 Russians killed in the shocking public opinion case and apologized to Russian tourists and Russian people for the incident.
Previously, on July 27, a local police spokesman in Pattaya shared with TASS that the 2 missing Russian citizens included Diana Nazimova, 22 years old and Roman Nazimov, 17 years old.
According to the mother of the 2 victims, both left home by motorbike in the early morning of July 26 and since then completely lost contact.
A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Thailand said that the embassy is closely coordinating with Thai authorities to monitor and handle the case of 2 missing Russian citizens in Pattaya.
By July 30, Thai media reported that Thai police had arrested 2 locals suspected of being involved in the incident.
According to initial investigations, these 2 people are suspected of assisting the main suspects in destroying the motorbike used by the 2 Russian citizens.
These two suspects are also suspected of helping the main suspects escape from the city on a motorbike with a tarpaulin-covered auxiliary trunk.
Thai media identified the main suspect as Thanu Katthong, nicknamed Pong, and an accomplice nicknamed Thong.
On July 29, Thai police discovered the motorbike of 2 Russian victims that had been disassembled and buried under the old Thung Luang cemetery, near Pong's house.
Witnesses said they saw 4 people digging many holes about 100m apart.
The components of the motorbike were found in separate burial pits and have been seized for DNA testing.
Thai media reported that the Pattaya Court has approved arrest warrants for 2 main suspects including Thanu Katthong, 43 years old - aka Pong and Thongchai, 39 years old - aka Thong.
The suspects are accused of theft and possession of property obtained from crimes after the motorbike of the 2 Russian citizens was discovered disassembled and buried.
Later, media reported that 2 local residents who were previously detained on suspicion of supporting the suspects were released after interrogation. Police determined that these 2 people only participated in the incident as witnesses and were not prosecuted.
On July 31, a Thai police spokesman confirmed to TASS that functional forces had arrested 2 main suspects in the case.
According to police, the suspects tried to escape by motorbike in Sa Kaeo province. When pursued, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran into the forest to hide.
Suspect Thong was arrested after the chase. Meanwhile, Pong initially escaped but was later also controlled by functional forces.
During interrogation, the 2 suspects admitted to killing 2 Russian citizens. Pong testified that Diana Nazimova and her younger brother Roman Nazimov were both dead and their bodies were buried. The suspect confessed to shooting Roman to death, while Diana was beaten to death.
According to the suspect's confession, the motive for the crime was to rob property.
In addition to the 2 Russians murdered, during the investigation, police also discovered the bodies of a family of 3 Thai people buried in a nearby coconut forest. Thanu Katthong confessed to killing these 3 people in another robbery.
