Staff from Aloha Villa arrived at the restaurant around 7am to find Mr Malyukov seated upright.
His room key and glasses were on the table next to him.
Police said he had been in Phuket since January 24, and lived alone at the hotel.
A witness told police that Mr Malyukov drank heavily and often. He was last seen at the hotel restaurant last night.
His body has been taken to Patong Hospital.