Thai police have arrested a group of 10 Russians who were running a sex training class for their compatriots in the seaside town of Pattaya, and have charged them with working in Thailand without permission.

Police said those arrested Monday included Russian national Alex Lesley, a self-proclaimed "sex guru" who made headlines last year following reports that he planned to run in Russia's presidential election next month.

But Lesley, whose real name is Alexander Kirillov, according to Thai police, is not registered as a presidential candidate with the Russian Central Election Commission.