The Royal Thai Police have escalated the search for two Russian nationals who vanished from their residence in Pattaya five days ago, a case now transformed into a potential homicide investigation after investigators discovered the siblings' motorcycle dismantled and buried in two separate locations near a cemetery.
Why This Matters:
• Multi-agency search operation involving over 200 officers continues in Chon Buri province as of July 31, 2026
• Two Thai suspects currently at large, one described as armed and dangerous
• International coordination with the Russian Embassy in Thailand is underway
• Safety concerns for foreign residents in the Pattaya area have intensified
Diana Nazimova, 22, and her brother Roman Nazimov, 17, were last observed leaving their home at the Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at approximately 4:00 AM on July 26. The siblings share the same parents but have different surname transliterations from Russian to English — a common occurrence with Russian names. CCTV footage captured them departing on a black Honda ADV 160 motorcycle bearing Chon Buri registration plates, heading toward the Map Ta Phut-Najomtien motorway.
From Routine Trip to Criminal Investigation
What began as a welfare check has morphed into a complex criminal probe. The siblings' mother, Zarina Nazimova, 40, initially believed her children had left for a nearby convenience store. She grew alarmed when they failed to return and reported them missing to Huay Yai Police Station after Diana sent a message described as "URGENT" — shortly before both mobile phones became inactive.
Surveillance cameras tracked the pair making a U-turn near a toll plaza, then stopping to converse with an unidentified individual on another motorcycle. The footage shows the siblings' bike eventually traveling in tandem with this unknown motorcycle, while a third vehicle appeared to trail behind. The last confirmed sighting occurred at 4:33 AM at a traffic intersection beneath the Ban Chak Ngaew motorway bridge before they vanished from camera coverage near Wat Yang Yai.
Buried Motorcycle Shifts Investigation
The investigation took a sinister turn on July 29 when local officials stumbled upon four men with digging equipment in a wooded section of Na Jomtien. The group fled upon being approached. A subsequent search of the area yielded pieces of the siblings' motorcycle, dismantled and buried at two distinct sites not far from the home of a 74-year-old woman who authorities later identified as the aunt of a primary suspect.
Forensic teams from Provincial Police Region 2 are now treating the burial sites as active crime scenes, examining the recovered motorcycle parts for DNA evidence, bloodstains, and fingerprints. The discovery has fundamentally altered how investigators view the disappearance — no longer a simple missing persons case, but a potential abduction or worse.
Manhunt for Two Thai Nationals
Authorities have identified two persons of interest: Thai men known locally as "Pong," 43, and his associate "Thong." Pong, who was released from incarceration less than two months before the siblings went missing, has become the focus of an intensive manhunt across Chon Buri province.
Assistant village headman Niphon Chatsri helped police identify Pong from CCTV footage. Local residents have described Pong as a feared figure in the community, allegedly known to carry weapons. Royal Thai Police have issued a public warning advising citizens not to approach him if spotted, noting he may be armed.
A witness told investigators that Pong claimed he was holding the siblings' motorcycle as collateral for a ฿60,000 debt — equivalent to roughly one month's salary for many Thai workers. Police are working to verify this claim and determine any connection to the disappearance.
Evidence of Suspicious Activity
Villagers reported seeing Thong excavating at the motorcycle burial site from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM on July 28. Both suspects allegedly returned to the location the following morning but scattered in opposite directions when officials arrived.
On July 29, police surrounded a residence in Huay Yai subdistrict after receiving intelligence that the pair were hiding inside. The operation yielded no arrests, but the homeowner provided investigators with a crucial detail: Pong and Thong had returned to the house around 10:00 AM on July 26 — the same day the siblings disappeared — covered in mud. They remained for approximately one hour before departing.
Pong's aunt told police he visited her on the evening of July 27, claiming he planned to travel to Chanthaburi to visit a sick child. Investigators pursued this lead but found no evidence the siblings or suspects traveled to that province.
Adding another layer to the investigation, a 24-year-old local resident reported hearing multiple gunshots roughly 500 meters from the motorcycle burial site on the nights of July 28 and 29, though authorities have not confirmed whether the sounds relate to the case.
What This Means for Residents
The case has exposed vulnerabilities for foreign nationals living in Thailand, particularly those with limited Thai language skills. Zarina Nazimova emphasized that her children speak only Russian and English, potentially limiting their ability to seek help or communicate with locals if they are being held against their will.
Pol Maj Gen Kiatisak Sathong-oi, investigative commander of Provincial Police Region 2, is personally overseeing search operations that now span two subdistricts: tambon Na Jomtien in Sattahip district and tambon Huay Yai in Bang Lamung district. The Tourist Police Bureau has also engaged, with deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Pongsayam Meekanthong chairing urgent case review meetings.
Coordinated Search Efforts
As of July 31, 2026, search teams deployed two specialized K9 units — sniffer dogs named Yaya and Hunter — who were given clothing items provided by the siblings' mother to establish scent trails. The dogs conducted searches of a pond and abandoned building in Na Jomtien believed to be potential last locations.
The Russian Embassy in Thailand has maintained close contact with Thailand Tourist Police Bureau throughout the investigation, ensuring diplomatic channels remain open and coordinated. This international cooperation represents a standard protocol for cases involving foreign nationals but takes on heightened urgency given the evidence suggesting foul play.
Investigators have not ruled out multiple scenarios, including the possibility the siblings were under surveillance before their disappearance, were lured to a specific location, or became victims of a dispute involving acquaintances. The discovery of the buried motorcycle suggests premeditation and attempts to conceal evidence.
Community Response and Public Safety
The disappearance has resonated within Pattaya's substantial foreign resident community, raising questions about personal safety in areas outside the main tourist zones. Huay Yai, while popular with long-term expatriate residents due to lower housing costs, lacks the security infrastructure and police presence of central Pattaya.
Local residents have actively cooperated with authorities, providing witness statements and identifying suspects from surveillance footage. This community involvement has proven crucial in advancing the investigation, though the suspects remain at large.
Royal Thai Police continue to appeal for public assistance, urging anyone with information about the siblings' whereabouts or the suspects' current location to contact Huay Yai Police Station immediately. Authorities emphasize that given Pong's alleged history and potential armament, the public should not attempt direct contact if they spot him.
The investigation remains active with search operations ongoing across multiple locations in Chon Buri province as of July 31, 2026. With the discovery of the dismantled motorcycle transforming this from a missing persons case into a criminal investigation, authorities are working against time to locate Diana and Roman Nazimov and bring those responsible to justice.
