The hunt for Russians in Bali continued: documents are being checked

The Indonesian island of Bali, nicknamed “fabulous” in Runet, seems to be ceasing to be so. On the Day of Silence, which Indonesia celebrates on March 22, the authorities promised the Russians “new deportations and arrests.” What is happening in Bali, we learned from those who are now on the island.

– The Day of Silence on March 22 is an important stage in the celebration of the Hindu New Year, it is important to sum up the results on this day, – explains the Russian-speaking guide from Nusa Dua (a district of the island of Bali – author). – On this day, the immigration authorities promise to announce the results of a five-day special operation “to clean up illegal immigrants.”

To date, only from Bali, despite the fact that tourists are resting not only on this Indonesian island, 47 foreign guests have already been expelled, including 13 compatriots, and on Wednesday the immigration authorities promise a report on new “arrests and deportations”.

There is also confirmation in the press: the Bali Ministry of Justice officially warned guests that from Friday, March 17 to Wednesday, March 22, “police raids to curb criminal activity, especially among tourists” will be held throughout the island.

– On the roads they stop everyone not of a local species, – says a relocant from Saratov. – Car or bike can now be rented only with a local driver. Well, or with local rights, which are impossible to obtain. That is, simply put, it is simply impossible. Previously, it was possible to give the gendarme “on the paw”, but within the framework of the raid – no. They now have the task of catching as many violators as possible for reporting.

– For the first violation – say, for the lack of a helmet or illegal rental of a vehicle – we will not be immediately deported, – an official of the Bali immigration office consoles in an unofficial field. – We will record the violation, and expel only repeat offenders.

– Are all 13 expelled people malicious recidivists on the roads?

– No, three were engaged in prostitution, the rest had visa violations. They have not yet been deported for traffic violations, although there are most violators among your citizens.

Last week, after the expulsion from Indonesia of three Russian women accused of prostitution in Bali, the immigration authorities admitted for the first time that the Timpora group, specially created to supervise foreigners, is working “with the help of a caring public,” or, in other words, on the denunciations of private persons. It was through their efforts that five Russians were expelled from Bali on March 10.

– “Timpora” is a monitoring group, therefore it does not go on raids, but collects information by all possible means, – the Balinese immigration official does not deny. “But all received signals are carefully checked.

– If someone gave you such a “signal”, then everything has already come into the field of view of “Timpora”, – the Russian relocators are sure. – And that’s it, don’t turn away, they will find something. They are required to work.

– Who cares to knock on you? You, on the contrary, rent housing from locals, rent transport, spend money!

– They are very active. And not for those Russians who relax in rich villas, but for those who earn extra money. And this is a certain circle of those who are here not on paid leave, but out of need. And everyone knows each other.

This is the main pain of the Bali authorities, although they voice it along with others – violations of the visa regime and on the roads: “come in large numbers” from the Russian Federation and Ukraine quite actively and effectively take away from under the noses of local entrepreneurs their traditional service sectors – excursions, transport and even the beauty industry and public catering. But compatriots are convinced that not only local competitors inform on them, but also their own.

“Those who have managed to open a cafe or a beauty salon here have settled down very well,” says a relocant from Siberia. – And who did not have time, he is envious and willing to clear a place for himself. But they don’t look ahead and don’t understand that later someone will write to them in the “immigration card”. And in the end, everyone will just be etched, and that’s it. Some people buy local “ksivs” for themselves, not realizing that this is a forgery of documents, for which the local prison shines.

“As part of the operation, which started on March 17, everyone who violated the ban on work in Indonesia to persons who arrived on a tourist visa will be detained and subsequently deported,” the Bali immigration office promises. – If a fake Indonesian ID (ID – identity card – author) is found during the check, then this is a criminal case. We already have one.

Meanwhile, the governor of Bali, who last week approached the Indonesian authorities with a proposal to “tighten the rules for issuing visas for citizens of Russia and Ukraine due to a series of serious violations of the law committed by visitors from these countries,” received a response from both his Ministry of Justice and the Russian ambassador. .

The Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights responded that it considered such a move “premature.” But if “the number of Russians and Ukrainians causing trouble to the island” continues to grow, then the governor’s proposal will be considered.

To which the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobyeva, noted that in this case, the miracle island should wait for a “change in the tourist flow.” Here, apparently, the Balinese “immigrant” looked into her own statistics, which says that in 2022, 58 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation visited Bali, and only in January 2023, 22.5 thousand guests from Russia arrived on the island, and with a visa toughening for us decided to wait. And the wish of the authorities, “so that the number of disturbers does not grow”, is being solved by deportation, since there are many reasons for it.