A Russian model has posted messages on her Instagram account pleading with U.S. journalists to help get her out of a jail in Thailand, where she’s being held for running so-called “sex training” sessions. In exchange, she says, she can offer information on U.S. President Donald Trump and his relationship with powerful Russian officials.
The woman who goes by the name Nastya Rybka, posted a video showing her being transported to a prison in Pattaya, in which she pleads for help from U.S. media personnel.
“I’m ready to give you all the missing puzzle pieces, support them with videos and audios, regarding the connections of our respected lawmakers with Trump, Manafort and the rest. I know a lot. I’m waiting for your offers and I’m waiting for you in a Thai prison,” she said.
In another Instagram post, a picture shows what are purportedly three Russian women being held in jail. The accompanying message reads:
“I appeal to all media, journalists who work using my materials to spread all the information and investigate this strange situation which shed the light on some topic that led to a worldwide political scandal.Russia has already reached the Thai kingdom where police volunteers are afraid of this affair and afraide [sic] to be involved with it. And Thai immigration is dancing to the tune of Russia and in fact will simply kill us if Thailand gives us to Russia. We have no more money – we spent everything on bail. If there is anybody who can help – please write to those contacts that we indicated.”
Rybka has been thrust into the spotlight after a Russian political opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, published the results of an investigation into corruption in the Russian government last month. Rybka was implicated in the report because of her alleged connections with powerful Russian figures.
A video from Rybka’s Instagram account, and highlighted in Navalny’s investigation, shows an August 2016 yacht trip with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Prikhodko.
Deripaska used to work with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Manafort also, through an intermediary, reportedly offered to provide Deripaska with “private briefings” about the Trump campaign during the election. Manafort, through a spokesman, described the offer as being routine and said the meetings never even materialized. Deripaska called the allegations “fake news.”
Rybka was initially released after posting bail but has since been detained again because her tourist visa was revoked. Thai immigration officials say she is awaiting deportation.