Investigators reviewed travel routes during the relevant period and found that two Russian men had reportedly spent time with the victim before he went missing.

11:49, Mon, Feb 2, 2026 Updated: 11:52, Mon, Feb 2, 2026

Pattaya Walking Street, main nightlife street with go-go bars and strip clubs

Pattaya, Bangkok, where the suspects were detained (Image: Getty)

Two Russian men have been arrested for allegedly murdering a fellow countryman whose dismembered remains were found buried near a pond in Thailand. Iaroslav Demidov, 34, from Altai Krai, and Dmitrii Maskalev, 37, from Krasnoyarsk, allegedly abducted 30-year-old Mikhail Emelianov over a heroin debt of approximately £87,500.

The pair are believed to have killed and chopped up the Russian national before dumping his body parts in an overgrown wasteland in the notorious "Sin City" of Pattaya. The two suspects were eventually detained at a hotel in Bangkok following the discovery of Mikhail’s remains on February 1. Prosecutors have officially charged the pair with "intentional homicide, concealing a corpse to hide the death, and detention for ransom involving torture or acts of cruelty resulting in the victim’s death."

Police confirmed they obtained CCTV footage allegedly showing Mikhail entering a home in a housing estate just half a mile away from where his body was located. While he never emerged from the residence, the suspects were later seen on camera leaving the premises on motorbikes.

Police Major General Phongphan Wongmaneethet, commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, said: "Investigators retrieved the final piece of evidence that led to the discovery of the victim’s body after reviewing security camera footage.

"The video showed that the victim never left the house where the incident occurred, and no cars had exited. The only clue involved two motorcycles used by the suspects, which entered and exited the area more than 10 times.

"The movements were suspicious because the motorcycle seats were left propped open, prompting officers to track them to the body disposal site, leading to the arrests."

Investigators reviewed travel routes during the relevant period and found that Demidov and Maskalev had reportedly spent time with the victim before he went missing.

Officers also discovered that the suspects had hired two locals to stage a search for the victim in a calculated attempt to divert the attention of the authorities. Both Thai men later became key witnesses, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants.

Officials noted that the suspects remained tense and refused to answer questions during their interrogation.

Mikhail’s mother, 51-year-old Olga Lazabenko, who had flown to Thailand to seek help from the police, was heard wailing in anguish as she broke down in tears while confirming her son’s identity.

Investigators believe Mikhail was murdered over the £87,500 debt, noting he had received texts threatening to "sell his organs" if he failed to pay. Cops confirmed that Mikhail’s torso was still missing from the scene.

The gruesome discovery followed a week-long search for the Russian national, who vanished after a "shady business deal" on January 7 in the party resort. Pattaya has recently become a known haven for Russian criminals dodging conscription for the war with Ukraine.

Olga said Mikhail had called her in distress to warn her about his transaction with two "dangerous" Russian men. On January 7, Mikhail met with the pair in Pattaya before they were due to travel to Bangkok.

Throughout the day, he shared his location to reassure his mother. That evening, he left a final message for Olga before losing all contact. Speaking through a translator, Olga said she had lent approximately £7,300 to Mikhail to invest in his cannabis shop, which he had been running for more than two years in Pattaya.

He was last seen emerging from his room and leaving a hotel on a motorbike with a bag strapped to his back.

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Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most famous tourist destinations, known for its beaches and seedy nightlife. The resort has become a popular retreat for Russian tourists dodging the draft, but the town is also a place where tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading to its "Sin City" moniker.

Although central government officials have launched tourism initiatives to rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination for families, alcohol and the sex trade remain its biggest draws, frequently leading to high rates of crime.