Executive Summary
- A 35-year-old Russian national, wanted by the FBI for alleged cybercrimes, was arrested on the Thai resort island of Phuket.
- The arrest was conducted by Thai police based on an FBI tip, and the suspect now faces potential extradition to the United States.
- Russian state media identified the man as Denis Obrezko, and Russian consular officials have visited him in detention in Bangkok.
A 35-year-old Russian national wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for alleged cyberattacks on government agencies has been arrested in Phuket, Thailand. Thai officials confirmed the suspect was taken into custody earlier this month at a hotel on the resort island and is now being held pending a possible extradition to the United States.
The arrest on November 6 was initiated following a tip from the FBI, according to a statement from Thailand’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau. Authorities reported that FBI officials were present during the operation, in which laptop computers, mobile phones, and digital wallets were seized. The suspect had reportedly entered Thailand on October 30.
While Thai and U.S. officials have not publicly released the suspect’s name, the Russian state-run news agency Russia Today identified him as Denis Obrezko. The agency reported that his family confirmed the arrest and intends to contest his extradition. The U.S. Department of Justice and the State Department have declined to comment on the case.
Russian diplomatic officials have confirmed their awareness of the situation. Yegor Ivanov, Russia’s consul general in Phuket, told the Tass news agency that the consulate had been notified of the arrest. Additionally, a representative from the Russian embassy in Bangkok confirmed that consular staff have visited the citizen in prison.
The formal extradition request has been submitted, but the timeline for the process remains unclear. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.