DB-cleanup/merge-output/sources/172_Belarusian-couple-23-y-o-man.txt

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CASE 172  |  Belarusian couple (23 y/o man)  |  January 31, 2024  |  Thailand
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DATABASE RECORD
  id                  172
  date                January 31, 2024
  original_date       January 31, 2024
  year                2024
  month               1
  quarter             2024-Q1
  victim              Belarusian couple (23 y/o man)
  location            Phuket, Thailand
  country             Thailand
  scenario            Kidnapping
  description         5 "Russians" arrested in crypto abduction case (~USD 801,200)
  kidnappings         1
  violence_torture    1
  drugs_alcohol       0
  weapons             0
  theft               1
  life_taken          0
  money_wanted        31M Baht
  coin_type           crypto
  reports             BangkokPost
  notes               van blocked the victim couple on a motorbike, forced into van, put plastic bags over heads and beaten the man till he transfered crypto
  has_processed_date  1
  created_at          2025-11-13 05:44:45

AI SUMMARY  [generated at bulk import, NOT verified against sources]
  **Victim:** Belarusian couple (23 y/o man)
  
  **Attackers:** Unknown number of perpetrators
  
  **Attack Method:** Kidnapping for ransom
  
  **Violence Used:** Physical violence
  
  **Crypto Stolen:** 31M Baht in crypto
  
  **Status:** Arrests made

LINKED SOURCES
  [url]  https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2735294/5-russians-arrested-in-crypto-abduction-case

NOTES ON THIS FILE
  * matched to sheet row 173: exact match on victim + year, unique on both sides

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ARTICLE 1
  Source   BangkokPost
  URL      https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2735294/5-russians-arrested-in-crypto-abduction-case
  Origin   reported_K&R sheet, row 173, column "Articles"
  Length   3,657 chars
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5 Russians arrested in crypto abduction case
Belarusian couple forced into van in Phuket and forced to transfer B31m in crypto
PUBLISHED : 2 Feb 2024 at 15:23
UPDATED : 2 Feb 2024 at 18:40
WRITER: Achadthaya Chuenniran and Online Reporters
Police question one of five Russian men over the alleged abduction of a Belarusian couple in Phuket province. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Police question one of five Russian men over the alleged abduction of a Belarusian couple in Phuket province. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)
PHUKET: Police have arrested five Russian men accused of abducting a Belarusian couple on this resort island and forcing them to transfer 31 million baht worth of cryptocurrency before releasing them.
Police initially brought in four of the five Russians for questioning following a complaint by Albert Viviankou, 23, and his wife, whose name was not given. The couple alleged that a group of men abducted them in front of a restaurant near the Lor Rong intersection in Muang district around 10pm on Monday.
The couple were taken in a black Hyundai van and forced to transfer US$901,200, or about 31 million baht, worth of cryptocurrency. After the transfers were made, the gang released the couple, who immediately filed the complaint.
The first two Russian men were found in a room in the area, while the other two were held at Phuket airport as they were about to leave the country. All were taken to the Muang district police station for questioning, where they denied the charges.
Subsequently, a fifth suspect, reported to be the mastermind, was apprehended at a massage shop on Patong beach and interrogated separately. All five continued to deny involvement.
On Thursday, the Phuket Provincial Court approved arrest warrants for the four Russians initially taken in for questioning. The men initially refused to sign their names in the police record of their arrest. They were detained at the Muang station for legal action.
The five are Zalim Nalchikov, 37; Oleg Bogdanov, 30; Azamat Nagofv, 36; Islam Abdokov, 29; and Aslan Abazov, 36.
Police have initially charged them with robbery, coercion, illegal detention and related offences.
Some of the five Russian suspects involved in the alleged abduction of the Belusarian couple are interrogated by police. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Some of the five Russian suspects involved in the alleged abduction of the Belusarian couple are interrogated by police. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Forensic officials on Friday attempted to collect evidence from the alleged abduction van, but no evidence was found. However, evidence was obtained from a rented Toyota Fortuner used by the gang. The forensic team found a plastic basin, a kitchen knife, a folding knife, two rolls of adhesive tape, one roll of plastic rope, a stove lighter and a pair of scissors. All of the items were unused.
According to a source, the Belarusian couple told police that they were riding a motorcycle from a game shop in tambon Chalong in Muang district to their accommodation in tambon Talad Yai when the abduction took place.
As they were about to enter a side street, three men in a Hyundai van cut in front of their bike, forcing them into the van. The couple’s heads were covered with plastic bags, and the male victim was punched to compel them to transfer the cryptocurrency.
After the money was wired, the couple were released about a kilometre away from where they were abducted. The couple insisted they did not know the perpetrators, having entered Phuket since December last year, while the suspects arrived on the island just last month, the source said.

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generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R  |  case 172
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