The prime suspect is believed to have already fled the country.
Police were called to the house in Soi Sai Nam Yen (or Soi Chao Fa 67), in Moo 6, Chalong, at 11:10am.
At the house, officers found the body of Artur Mkhitarian, 41, on the floor beside marjuana plants being grown at the home. He had suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck.
Officers noted signs of a struggle at the home, and estimated that Mr Mkhitarian had died some eight to 10 hours before his body was found.
The alarm was raised by Mr Mkhitarian’s wife, Anna, who filed a report to police after her husband had been missing for two days.
Police tracked down his rental car through the car’s GPS, and found it parked near the home.
Neighbours confirmed they had heard an argument at house on Tuesday night (Mar 12), but were not able to understand it and did not intervene.
Police noted that Mr Mkhitarian arrived in Phuket on visa exemption status on Jan 28 and was permitted to stay until Apr 26. He was initially registered as staying at Laguna Park in Cherng Talay.
His wife, Ms Anna, 32, told police that her husband had come to live in Thailand, along with his parents and two children, all living in Chalong.
She last saw Mr Mkhitarian at around 5pm on Mar 12.
Police confirmed that Tajikistan national Bakhtovar Murozoda was renting the house where Mr Mkhitarian’s body was found.
Murozoda boarded a Turkish Airlines flight from Phuket to Istanbul at 9:38pm last night.
Russian embassy officials have been informed of the incident.