Police were today investigating the suspected murder of a Russian woman who plunged from the eighth floor of a hotel block on a Thai island.

Evgeniia Smirnova, 35, had been drinking with three friends at the property in the notorious party district of Patong in Phuket before she is said to have fallen in the early hours of May 31.

The woman’s body was found lying face down, wearing a dark blue dress with red patterns. Her head was bleeding and in her right hand she was clutching strands of hair.

Police attending the scene found bottles, glasses of liquor, an unwrapped condom, an opened black condom cover, an ashtray, and cigarettes in the room. The room’s sliding door was left opened and there were no signs of intrusion and property being raided in the room.

Condo staff told police that four people, including Evgeniia, had been staying in the 8th-floor room and there was a low-edged spiral staircase outside her room which connected to the 7th floor.

Officers are now probing the death at the Emerald Terrace Resort and have not ruled out foul play. They are coordinating with the Russian consulate in Phuket.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Chomphunuch Anantayakun said: ‘We believe that the woman might have accidentally fallen from the balcony while looking out at the view. However, it could be a homicide resulting from an argument.

‘We are in the process of interrogating the people involved. The hair in the woman’s hand will go through DNA testing to find who it belonged to.’

Police Major General Sermphan Sirikong said that officers have started interviewing the three friends who were with Evgeniia.

Her body has been sent to the Patong hospital for a post-mortem examination. Medics believe she died from a head trauma caused by the fall.

The policeman added: ‘An investigation is ongoing to report to the embassy. We need time before concluding whether it was an accident, a suicide, or murder.’

Police said the fall happened at the condominium block on the Phrabarami Road area of the city. It is a short walk from the Bangla Road red-light district, which is popular with Russian, Australian and British sex tourists.