Sounds like a terrible ordeal. whether or not you believe the entire account of the story is up to you. however the assault of a women is never acceptable or can be condoned. The Russians are really getting bad press recently and this will certainly not help.

Posted by Ciaran on January 8, 2013 12:39

Nice to know that quality tourism is alive and well in Phuket. The place is getting classier by the day.

Posted by Swami K. on January 8, 2013 16:29

Hard to believe a Russian would start to beat a woman. Even more out of the blue.

Posted by Lena on January 8, 2013 18:50

People, don't judge the others by their nationality, but for what they do for the society. In each country there are good and bad people and if it happens to you that you can't solve the problem with a British guy in a peaceful way - then it doesn't mean at all that all the British people are rude, negative and troublemakers. So there were Russian people involved in this case - then in doesn't mean that all of Russians are mafia and Russians spoil this place. Before you say the others to clean their ass - look at your own.

Posted by Waldemar on January 8, 2013 19:33

haha it's just a provocation! it happened just 2 days after local taxis choked Russian tour companies (yes, and 100% legal ones). You see that they underline the thought that they are Russians?
Russia played the key role in destroying racism in Europe during the WW2... Sad to see a lot of racist comments on the web, guys.

Posted by Andrew on January 8, 2013 20:42

''Please spread the word. I don't want it [Phuket] turning into a mess.''

Too late, dear.

Posted by Buster on January 8, 2013 22:53

I blame tourism authority of Thailand for all the bs whats happening here in Thailand to do with the Russian's and them not doing real home work on Russian tourism its these people who are killing Thailand these days .. I really loved what TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni, ''Tourism is now recognised as Thailand???s most important service industry. Its contribution to job creation, income distribution and foreign exchange earnings is well above par. While the industry has been doing well so far, it cannot rest on its laurels in an unstable and unpredictable world.''

The primary determinant of how travel and tourism performs in future will be global economic and geopolitical stability. If this continues, there will be no shortage of opportunities, technologies and activities to capitalize on demand.

By far the most important opportunity is the emergence of the ASEAN Economic Community and prospects of free movement of products and people by 2015. These opportunities increase manifold when the nearly 600 million strong population of the 10 ASEAN countries is expanded to include ASEAN +3 (China, Japan and South Korea) and beyond by another three countries to include ASEAN +6 (Russia, India and Australia). it's about time they did a reshuffle sack all the old people who have no idea what the job in tales these days and let the new new generation have a go at it they can't do any worse then what the people who are in charge are doing now in all truth ?

Posted by Nick on January 8, 2013 23:00

@ Lena oh yes hard to believe a Russia can bit a woman !!! I presume Lena yu are from Russia too

Posted by Ratatouille on January 9, 2013 08:29

@waldermar yes you are right so how many % have a good attitude from Russia in phuket 1% 5% more ?? Have a good day

Posted by Ratatouille on January 9, 2013 08:33

You know things have got bad when this happens at the Catch Club..Seriously I am a frquent visitor to Phuket & the Catch Club, when will the ministry tourism and the hotel association step up and voice thier opinion, I never and I repeat never hear anything from them in respect to what is happening to Phuket. Wake up guys it is destroying your business and the people who depend on it..

Posted by The Other Side on January 9, 2013 10:30

@Ratatouille always wanted to ask you, what are you taking? From the sound of your writing self cooked meth comes to mind.

I do know Russians. I speak their languages and yes, part of my family has origins there. But that does not make me a vocal proponent of Russians as the people who destroyed rasicm in Europe (lol), or that they like to discuss things thouroughly, before getting a lawyer to sort it out if that does not help.

Russians like to look mean and scary and to intimidate. Thats strongness to them. Like a sport and if your not up to it, your weak. Sadly most speak no English and they have an inbuild inferiority complex because of that, are insecure - that is a deep even geographically induced culture thing, as for centuries Russians had to endure fear for extinguishing, as they have no defensible borders, so they decided, they go and need space for security, and that helped a lot, with the downside, they had to control pretty heavy on a lot of other people and cultures. And so much, they had to build very big and efficient security institutions and trade off security for freedom at home with authoritarian rule.

But they are also family people, love their kind, great friends - well drinking helps - and celebrate hard and wild. And spending like crazy, maybe also because they do not know, what tomorrow brings in their country or to them personally, so the future, naaa... will work out or so.

So for e.g. if you want to enter the airport and the Russians block the entry again, then don't look angry, don't look friendly just certain and tell them with your fingers you have to go through. Do not make to much eye contact, mostly ignore them, but do your thing and make clear its your room also. And when they let you through, you can say a firm thank you as a positive feedback and an education to them, that not all french are jerks. And you will find more then just 1% or 5% friendly Russians here. (ok, that is a little bit funny written, but hey, they are here and you have to deal with them)

And for Khun Jen, good to see, she can afford the best medical help possible on Phuket. Hope she get well soon.

Posted by Lena on January 9, 2013 15:51

CLASH OF CULTURES!...THAI People=Friendly, Smiling, and always joking!..RUSSIAN people= Not friendly, never smile, and never joke around..I think they should take a class before they leave Russia, about how to interact with other people, so they can get along, and not make everyone else miserable!

Posted by Anonymous on January 10, 2013 06:48

Sorry chaps, but the russians are messing with Thailand and no one says anything. I have properties in Phuket for the past decade so I know the Thailand of 10 years ago and the one now.
Sorry but Russians create problems anywhere in Thailand. They are here and they impose their language, their prostitutes and the ones who are coming here have no manners and they come with the money they want to "laundry" from drugs or oil from Russia. So if someone wants to defend them good for them but they are crap tourists.
Time for the thai government to do something about it. Pattaya is already out of control ... Phuket will be next?
Food for thought.

Posted by Alex on January 18, 2013 19:10

ANDREW--What the hell?? "Russia played a key role in destroying racism in Europe during WWII". They did? While working hard to eliminate every tribal ethnic group throughout their own land during the war? Is that how they played a key role in fighting racism? By murdering all the other races in their own country either by directly killing them or throwing them unequipped against the German onslaught as a way of eliminating them? READ THE HISTORY closer...

Posted by rachetitup on February 4, 2013 15:08