Due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Indonesia is seriously considering a proposal to revoke the visa exemptions for these nationals.
The foreign ministry and the ministry of law and human rights have been asked by Bali Governor Wayan Koster to stop granting visas upon arrival to travellers from those two nations.
“I have written a letter to the ministries requesting that the visa facility be revoked for Russians and Ukrainians,” Koster confirmed in his media talk last week.
The decision was taken after individuals from these nations were discovered engaging in illicit activity while on tourist visas and working in the region illegally.
At least four Russians were deported this month for violating their visas, making them one of the largest foreign nationalities entering in Indonesia. Immigration authorities have repeatedly urged travellers to avoid abusing their visas.
The Indonesian government reports that 58,000 Russians visited the region in 2022, and a further 22,500 arrived in January 2023 alone. This raises concerns that a number of illicit activities could threaten the authority of the government.
Due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russians are now travelling to Phuket, Thailand to visit for a few days or to buy real estate.
However, if the government accedes to the demands of Governor Bali, who seems adamant in his approach, these facilities might not be open for Russians and Ukrainians anytime soon. Bali is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations because it has temples like Pura Tanah Lot, mountains like Mount Batur, sanctuaries like Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, beaches like Nusa Dua, and much more.
The conflict between the two nations has already lasted for a year, and international efforts to bring about peace and a détente appear to be failing more and more frequently. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Putin and t find out a “rational way” out of the conflict.
In connection with the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, which Moscow denies, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest order for the Russian president.
