Phuket Provincial Court issued arrest warrants for the two Russian nationals, Karon Police confirmed.
Karon Police have also released a report of the robbery, clarifying many details regarding the incident.
The attack was tied to an alleged cryptocurrency dispute at a hotel near the Karon Night Market, leaving Russian national Zelimkhan Iusupov, 31, injured and authorities looking to have the two suspects apprehended.
According to the police report, the assault occurred around 8pm at the hotel room where Mr Iusupov was staying.
A Russian male suspect, whose identity was initially unknown, forcibly entered the room, assaulted Mr Iusupov, and restrained him using tape and electrical wire.
The assailant demanded the return of a substantial cryptocurrency sum, threatening the victim’s life if he failed to comply.
During the attack, the suspect placed a call to another individual, identified by the victim as Andrei Veselov, a Russian national with whom he had a prior cryptocurrency-related dispute in Russia.
Mr Veselov allegedly demanded the transfer of US$120,000 in cryptocurrency and instructed the attacker to coerce the victim into revealing his wallet passcode.
Despite Mr Iusupov’s refusal, the suspect searched Mr Iusupov’s belongings, stealing approximately 50-70 $100 bills. The ordeal escalated as the victim was tied to a bathroom door rail and reportedly beaten unconscious.
After regaining consciousness, Mr Iusupov managed to free himself and reported the incident to Karon Police at about 1:30am on Monday (Jan 6).
Karon Police initiated an investigation, identifying two suspects and securing arrest warrants from Phuket Provincial Court.
The suspects were named by police as Andrei Veselov, 37, the alleged mastermind. Veselov entered Thailand on Nov 26, 2024, and remains in the country without reporting his residence.
The identified assailant, Dmitrii Kuznetsov, 36, entered Thailand on Sunday (Jan 5), just hours before the attack, and fled to Dubai on Monday (Jan 6) at 2:50am.
Police are continuing their search for Veselov, who remains at large in Thailand, while international cooperation is being sought to locate Kuznetsov, Karon Police said.