BANGKOK: Ukraine’s ambassador to Thailand died early on Sunday on the southern beach island of Koh Lipe while on vacation with his son, police said, with the cause of death still undetermined.

Andrii Beshta is a 45-year-old career diplomat who was appointed as Ukraine’s ambassador in Thailand in 2016.

The National Police said Beshta was found dead around 5:30am in his room at a hotel resort in Koh Lipe, an idyllic beach island popular with travellers for its crystal-blue waters.

“Preliminary investigations showed no signs of him being attacked, no signs of a raid or violence,” said a statement attributed to National Police deputy spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen.

The medical team first on the scene had wore PPE suits as a precaution to investigate the body, while authorities had questioned the ambassador’s son Ostap, who had shared the room with him.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021