Mother of Russians killed in Thailand sees execution as too lenient for killers — relative

Lead

The mother of two Russian siblings killed in Pattaya, Thailand, has spoken out against the death penalty for the accused, saying life imprisonment would be a more just punishment, according to a family relative who spoke with TASS.

The victims, 22-year-old Diana Nazimova and 17-year-old Roman Nazimov, went missing on July 27. Thai police later detained suspects who confessed to killing them while attempting to seize the motorcycle the Russians were riding.

Coverage Comparison

TASS reported on three distinct aspects of the case: the diplomatic response from Thailand, the family's reaction, and the details of the police investigation. These reports paint a complete picture of the events, from the initial disappearance to the suspects' confessions and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice.

Key Claims

Diplomatic Response

The Thai foreign ministry conveyed a letter of condolence to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the murder of the Russians in Pattaya, according to a statement from the Thai ministry. Director General of the European Department of the Thai Foreign Ministry Somrudee Poophronnack met with Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Yevgeny Tomikhin. In the meeting, Poophronnack expressed Thailand's deepest condolences and assured the ambassador that Thai authorities would fully cooperate with their Russian colleagues, as reported by TASS.

Family's Reaction

The mother of the victims opposes the death penalty for the accused and believes life imprisonment would be more just, family relative Konstantin told TASS. The relatives added that the siblings believed in Buddhism, and the cremation would take place on Thai soil. The farewell ceremony is scheduled for August 6.

Investigation Details

Thai police detained suspects in connection with the case. According to Thai media reports cited by TASS, the key perpetrator was identified as Thanu Katthong, known as Pong. The suspects confessed to shooting and killing Roman Nazimov and beating his sister Diana to death. The motive was robbery, as they attempted to seize the motorcycle the Russians were riding. The same gang had previously killed a Thai family of three in June, TASS reported. The disassembled motorcycle was found buried in a cemetery near Pong's house, and fragments were sent for DNA testing. A court in Pattaya sanctioned arrest warrants for two main suspects.

Temporal Context

The siblings went missing on July 27. The suspects' confessions were reported by July 31. The Thai foreign ministry's letter of condolence was conveyed on August 5, the same day the family's opposition to the death penalty was reported. The farewell ceremony is scheduled for August 6.