Phuket Police yesterday morning arrested a Ukrainian lady for spray painting slogans crucial of Russia at a well-liked viewpoint. The 34 yr outdated lady spray painted “#Russia is a terrorist state,” and “#Russia” on rocks and a bench at Khao Khad Viewpoint in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket’s main metropolis district. Wichit Police tracked the lady down by way of CCTV footage. Officers arrested her and brought her to Wichit Police Station to charge her with vandalism.
Wichit Police Chief Colonel Chatree Chookaew mentioned the woman informed police that she didn’t imply to “destroy the picture of Phuket in any means,” however solely wished to specific her views on Russia’s aggression towards her country. She has promised not to repeat her actions if she visits Phuket or Thailand in the future.
Still, Colonel Chatree said the girl would nevertheless face costs of vandalism. He added that while people have the proper to precise their opinions and thoughts, defacing a properly known landmark and viewpoint was not the appropriate approach to do it. He confused that the charge was strictly for vandalism and not for expressing political views.
The girl has been in Thailand for three months as a vacationer and plans to return to Ukraine on April 10.
The incident has drawn polarising reactions on social media, with Russians criticising the act and Ukrainians and Westerners supporting it, The Phuket Express reported. Meanwhile, Thais are riled up over the act of defacing a well-known viewpoint, whatever the context of the speech.
The Wichit Police did not point out if the lady was sent to Phuket Immigration for possible yellow or pink cards beneath a model new classification system for misbehaving foreigners being tested in Phuket. The Ukrainian woman is expected to appear in court docket to face the vandalism expenses.
Secrets is the second reported case of spray portray slogans crucial of Russia in Phuket this 12 months.
In February, a graffiti artist spray painted an anti-Putin slogan on a big rock on a Phuket beach. The slogan spray painted on a rock at Nai Thon Beach learn, “Putin killer stop warfare,” in English, with Russian writing underneath..