A terrifying kidnapping has rocked Pattaya, leaving a Russian journalist traumatised and extorted out of nearly 2.5 million baht by a gang of fellow Russian nationals. The shocking incident unfolded in the early hours of June 26, 2025, when David, a 28-year-old special correspondent for a Russian news agency, was ambushed in his hotel room in Jomtien.
According to Pattaya City Police, the attack occurred around 5am when four Russian men used a decoy to gain access to David’s room. Once inside, they stormed the room with firearms, restraining him with police-style handcuffs and blindfolding him with a black bag. The attackers then physically assaulted him, striking him with a gun to threaten him into compliance.
Ransom Demanded Through Terrifying Video Message
In a horrifying escalation, the kidnappers forced David to call his wife in Bangkok while they recorded a video of him being beaten. The video included menacing threats and was sent to his wife along with demands for ransom. Fearing for her husband’s life, David’s wife quickly agreed to their terms and was instructed to leave a Rolex Daytona watch, worth about 600,000 baht, at a designated drop-off location in Bangkok. A photo she took shows a suspicious man, believed to be one of the kidnappers, retrieving the valuables.
But the criminals did not stop there. The gang pressured David’s wife for additional money, demanding over 1.9 million baht in Bitcoin. Once the cryptocurrency was transferred, the gang released David in Pattaya but not before beating him again and damaging the vehicle he was left in.
Police Detain Some Suspects, Search Continues
David immediately reported the incident to Pattaya City Police, arriving at the station at 9pm on June 26 with visible injuries. Police have since arrested several suspects and are pursuing the remaining gang members. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the hotel, gathering witness testimonies, and tracing the Bitcoin wallet used for the ransom to locate everyone involved.
This brazen kidnapping has heightened concerns about tourist safety and organised crime in Pattaya, a popular destination among foreigners. Police urged visitors and residents alike to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately.