The family of Thai travel vlogger Hlun Solo, who was found dead in a Tbilisi hotel earlier this month, has questioned the possibility that he died by suicide and is calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The 27-year-old Thai traveler had built a large following on social media. Before becoming a successful travel vlogger, he reportedly grew up in difficult socioeconomic circumstances and spent years working demanding, low-paid jobs. His YouTube channel currently has more than one million subscribers.
Hlun Solo was found dead in a hotel in Tbilisi. His family last communicated with him on July 13 and was subsequently unable to reach him, prompting a social media campaign to locate him.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry has launched an investigation under Article 115 of the Criminal Code, which concerns incitement to suicide. The provision is also routinely used to open investigations when the circumstances or cause of a person’s death have not yet been established and further investigation or forensic examination is required.
The Interior Ministry said that the traveler’s body was discovered on July 14. However, his family was informed of his death only about two weeks later. On July 29, Hlun Solo’s brother announced that the family had received official confirmation of his death.
Hlun Solo’s family is seeking a detailed investigation and explanation of the circumstances surrounding his death. His relatives have also questioned why Georgian authorities were unable to identify and notify the family sooner, noting that the traveler’s passport information would have been recorded when he checked into the hotel.
Speaking to Thai journalists, Hlun Solo’s grandmother said she had continued to hope until the last moment that her grandson was alive and would return home safely.
She described him as cheerful, sociable, and well-liked, saying he had no known enemies or conflicts with anyone. his grandmother, Hlun had been saving money to renovate her house. She said his behavior and future plans gave the family no reason to believe he had taken his own life.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters on July 30 that Thailand would wait for Georgian authorities to complete their investigation before beginning procedures to repatriate Hlun Solo’s body.
He stressed that it was too early to draw conclusions about the cause of death and urged the public to wait for the Georgian authorities’ official findings rather than rely on speculation surrounding the case.
“At this stage, we cannot draw any conclusions. It is better to wait for the official investigation,” he said, adding that Thailand expected Georgian authorities to expedite the process.
Thailand does not have an embassy in Tbilisi, with Georgia covered by the Thai Embassy in Ankara. Thai media reported that the Foreign Ministry dispatched representatives from the embassy to Tbilisi to coordinate with Georgian authorities and monitor the investigation.
The representatives have reportedly already met with Georgian law enforcement officials, while a meeting with Georgia’s Foreign Ministry was scheduled for July 30.
Thailand’s foreign minister said procedures to repatriate Hlun Solo’s body will begin after Georgian authorities complete their investigation. He added that the process would also depend on the family’s wishes, as officials would consult with his relatives before taking further steps.
