Russian siblings dead, suspects confess

Bodies reportedly buried in Sattahip after duo were killed for their motorbike Diana Nazimova, 22, and her brother Roman Nazimov, 17, came to Thailand from Russia in 2021 to live with their mother, who had settled to Pattaya three years earlier. They were last seen alive on July 26. (Photo: TV screen capture) SA KAEO - Two men wanted in connection with the disappearance of two Russian siblings in Chon Buri have been arrested and reportedly confessed that the pair were killed and buried in a remote area, police said on Friday.Ex-convict Thana Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai Srinil, 39, were arrested while hiding in a longan orchard in Wang Sombun district of Sa Kaeo province following a multi-province manhunt. Both were wanted under arrest warrants issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court. The case centres on the disappearance of Diana Nazimova, 22, and her brother Roman Nazimov, 17, who went missing in the Huai Yai area of Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri on Sunday. The pair came to Thailand from Russia in 2021 to live with their mother, who had settled to Pattaya three years earlier. Police had been searching for the siblings for days after discovering their dismantled motorcycle buried near the home of one of the suspects’ relatives. Investigators also conducted searches around Khao Chi Chan in Sattahip district of Chon Buri and other locations believed to be linked to the suspects. During questioning, Mr Thongchai reportedly told police that on Sunday morning he was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by Thana as they followed the Russian siblings. The pair later stopped on the roadside, where Thana got off and spoke with the victims. He said he did not know what was discussed, but shortly afterwards he heard two gunshots. (Story continues below) Thana Kerdthong, one of two suspects in the disappearance and suspected murders of Russian siblings Diana Nazimova and Roman Nazimov, is escorted by police after his arrest in Wang Sombun district of Sa Kaeo province on Friday. (Photos: Sa Kaeo police) Police question suspect Thongchai Srinil, who reportedly confessed to burying the Russian siblings after his accomplice killed them. Threatened to comply Mr Thongchai claimed that after the shooting, Thana ordered him to fetch a spade and dig a hole, threatening him by saying: “If you don’t do it, you should know what could happen to your wife and your family.” He said he felt he had no choice but to comply, admitting that he was under the influence of drugs at the time and “not thinking clearly”. He also acknowledged helping to bury the bodies, and said he would be able to lead investigators to the burial site near Khao Chi Chan, close to where motorcycle parts linked to the victims had earlier been found. Thana reportedly gave a different account, admitting he shot Roman and fatally beat Diana. “The woman fought back, so I punched her,” Thai Rath Online quoted him as saying. He insisted there was no sexual assault and claimed the motive was to steal the victims’ motorcycle. Police said the suspects buried the bodies to conceal the crime before fleeing Chon Buri. They were later tracked through Chanthaburi and eventually located in Sa Kaeo. Pol Lt Gen Chatchai Surachetphong, the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, led the operation that resulted in the arrests on Friday afternoon. Investigators said they were not yet convinced by the suspects’ statements and would continue questioning them before taking them to identify the burial site and recover the bodies.