Thai authorities have issued an update in the bizarre case of missing Belarusian model Vera Kravtsova, who according to local reports was trafficked from Thailand to Myanmar and later “murdered.” Now, authorities are disputing the disturbing claims, The Independent reported.
Kravstova’s Case Made International Headlines
Last week, Kravtsova’s case made international headlines when the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that she had died of a heart attack and was cremated after traveling to Myanmar in search of modeling work. However, that document has not been authenticated.
Several tabloids, including The Sun and The Daily Mail, subsequently claimed that Kravtsova had responded to an internet job post seeking models and that she had been trafficked from Thailand to Myanmar, where she was imprisoned at a scam labor camp.
“She flew to Bangkok for a job interview, but instead of working on the runway, she was taken to Myanmar and turned into a slave,” The Sun claimed. “Her duties included being beautiful, serving her ‘masters,’ and scamming rich people.” It was reported in several outlets that Kravtsova’s family received a call from an anonymous individual informing them that Kravtsova was abducted and later “murdered,” her organs harvested. At this time, there is an unconfirmed rumor circulating on social media that this was a ploy to extort money from Kravtsova’s family.
Thai Officials Deny the Country’s Involvement
But in an October 23 statement, officials denied that any harm befell Kravtsova while she was in Thailand. According to the country’s immigration authorities, Kravtsova arrived in Thailand on September 12 on a flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. She then departed on September 20 on a Thai Airways flight to Yangon, Myanmar. Kravtsova’s family last spoke to her on October 4. Thai outlet MGR Online reported that Kravtsova’s identity was confirmed via a biometric check, seemingly disproving the abduction theory.
“CCTV footage shows she was not under any coercion, and immigration records confirm she used the self-service ABC (automated border control) gate,” police major general Cherngron Rimphadee, a spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau, said in the statement. However, authorities are still unsure what happened to Kravtsova when she left Thailand. “The reported brutal incidents happened after the model flew to Myanmar,” he added. “Thai police do not know what happened there as it is outside our authority.”
Vladimir Borovikov, the Belarusian ambassador to Myanmar, said that the claims regarding Kravtsova’s “murder” were “irresponsible.” “We can only regret the immoral and irresponsible behavior of individuals spreading false and unchecked information, which only increases the suffering of the relatives,” he told Belarusian Telegraph Agency.
Myanmar Scam Centers Proliferated Since 2021
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is reportedly monitoring the global reaction to Kravtsova’s case. The agency is also reminding travelers to Thailand to remain alert to their surroundings and not to engage with strangers while abroad. Tourists are urged to contact local authorities or their embassy if they believe they are in danger. Meanwhile, the Belarusian ministry of foreign affairs reportedly told Kravtsova’s family that it will offer full diplomatic support in facilitating the return of her remains, should it be necessary.
Scam centers in Myanmar have proliferated since the country’s 2021 military coup, The Guardian reported. The camps, which are controlled by local crime syndicates and allegedly supported by the country’s military, utilize trafficked workers from across Asia and Africa to run scams against unwitting victims. While roughly 7,000 people have been rescued from such camps, authorities estimate there are at least 100,000 more imprisoned across the country.
