A Russian social media influencer has been handed a staggering 99-year ban from Thailand after being convicted for a public obscenity offence involving a sex act in a moving vehicle.
Jail Sentences and Lifetime Exclusion
Georgy Dzugkoev, a 23-year-old vlogger from Krasnodar, Russia, has been sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in the explicit incident that occurred on a rain-soaked road in Phuket. The Thai authorities have also ordered his deportation and imposed an extraordinary 99-year prohibition on his return to the country, effectively barring him for life.
Incident Details and Legal Consequences
The controversial footage, which surfaced online last October, shows Dzugkoev and a 42-year-old Thai woman appearing to engage in sexual activity in the back of a black Ford Ranger Raptor pickup truck while it was in motion. The video quickly went viral, prompting a police investigation that led to multiple arrests.
The Thai woman involved received a 10-month prison sentence, while both the pickup truck driver and the cameraman were each handed one-year jail terms. All three Thai nationals also face deportation and bans from re-entering Thailand, though their exclusion periods were not specified as being as lengthy as Dzugkoev's near-century prohibition.
Police Investigation and Conflicting Accounts
Police Colonel Chatri Chukaew, superintendent of Mueang Phuket Police Station, revealed that Dzugkoev admitted to being the person in the video but denied actually having sex, claiming he was wearing underwear and that it only appeared sexual. The woman, however, confessed to her involvement and stated she was paid 1,000 baht (approximately £22.90) to participate in content creation for Dzugkoev's Instagram channel.
According to police reports, the woman told investigators she felt pressured by the notorious streamer, saying: "I was scared because it was dangerous, but he persuaded me to do it. I felt pressured, and I needed the extra money." The pair reportedly met at a bar where the woman was working before the incident occurred.
Attempted Escape and Apprehension
Following the video's circulation, Dzugkoev attempted to flee Thailand by flying to Bangkok and booking an international flight, but was intercepted by police before departure. He was subsequently returned to Phuket to face criminal charges. Thai authorities described the behaviour as "a gross violation of local laws and moral norms" and "severely insulting to Thailand."
Background of the Controversial Influencer
Dzugkoev has built a substantial online following through content characterised by extreme stunts, pranks, and explicit material. Russian news outlet Life has described his videos as featuring "obscenities, alcohol and drug use, unbridled behaviour, insults, bullying, sexual scenes, and other filth." His content frequently includes a 60-year-old woman he calls Rosa, who is openly mocked in his videos and referred to as his "fiancée."
The case highlights the increasing tensions between social media influencers pushing boundaries for content and local authorities enforcing public decency laws in tourist destinations. Thailand's severe response demonstrates the country's determination to maintain certain standards of public behaviour, particularly when incidents gain international attention through viral distribution.
