After 43 people were arrested earlier this week at a Russian-led “sex training” course in Pattaya meant to teach advanced sexual techniques, theories have emerged about the 10 leaders of the class, each of whom were sporting T-shirts that read “Sex Animator,” with an arrow that pointed to their genitals, when arrested.
Thai PBS posited that the leaders may be members of a Russian sex cult.
The teachers have been charged with crimes including working without a permit and entering the country illegally. Police have said that they will all be deported to Russia and blacklisted from ever re-entering Thailand. The “students,” who may have paid as much as THB20,000-THB45,000 (US$635-US$1,400) to enroll in the four-day course, were released without charge.
The alleged leader of the group, Alexander Kirillov, aka Alex Lesley, 36, has been under watch by Chonburi Police and is believed to run a fitness and sex sect that teaches enlightenment through sex.
READ: Pattaya police bust bizarre Russian ‘sexual training’ course
He is allegedly wanted in Russia where he could face charges including prostitution, kidnapping, and physical abuse.
The other instructors include Kirillov’s alleged girlfriend, 27-year-old Anastasia Vashukevich (aka Nastya Rybka), 27, Maria Zharkova, Diana Simuk, Andrei Zheshka, Vadim Nexhotsa, Ivan Petrov, Anton Fabritsy, Denis Kozlov, and Ihar Kucharavenka.
According to Khaosod English, Kirillov and Vashukevich left Russia just three weeks ago in the wake of a scandal in which it was revealed that Vashukevich, a Belarusian, had worked as an escort for Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.
And there the story takes a hard turn.
Vashukevich has since spoken to the press and said that, through her contact with Deripaska, she has confidential information about alleged Russian interference in the US election that won Donald Trump the presidency.
She and Kirillov said that, in exchange for asylum in the US and to avoid going back to Russia, they would provide hard evidence of what she knows, according to The Washington Post.
Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign manager, used to work for Deripaska. Vashukevich also claims to have spent time in 2016 with Putin’s foreign relations lieutenant, Sergei Prikhodko.
So far, the Russian couple has not provided any proof that they can back up these claims.
Kirillov supposedly sent a letter on Wednesday to the US Embassy in Bangkok asking for protection in exchange for their evidence. This intelligence was apparently collected by Vashukevich while she was on a yachting trip with Deripaska.
As far as we know, the US government has not yet responded.
Vashukevich’s Instagram account is still active and shows pictures of her in a cell and sitting on the floor of a detention center.
