Indonesia verifies reports of eight citizens recruited by Russia

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3 hours ago

If our citizens were recruited through job offers but then directed into military service and sent to a conflict zone, we must determine whether they are victims,

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is verifying reports that eight Indonesian citizens were allegedly recruited into Russia’s armed forces while assessing whether they were deceived or knowingly entered foreign military service, a senior minister said.

Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said authorities were verifying the identities, citizenship, recruitment processes, and involvement of each Indonesian.

“We are taking the information from Ukraine seriously. But we cannot draw conclusions before all the facts have been verified,” Yusril said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said the government must establish the identities of the Indonesians, how they were recruited, what they were offered, and whether they actually joined Russia’s military.

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (FISU) previously said it had obtained documents allegedly linked to the recruitment of at least eight Indonesians into Russia’s military.

The eight Indonesians named in the report are Yuda Putra Pratama, Haryanto Dwi Kencana, Erwanda, Ngangun Hudri Fadli, Muhammad Syaripudin, M Hadi Maulana, Wahyu Oktavian Iskandar and Helmi Nuraha Hakim.

According to the report, the Indonesians were allegedly recruited with offers of jobs, high salaries, non-combat duties, expedited Russian citizenship, and various social benefits.

FISU said recruiters used job offers to attract foreign nationals who could later be directed into military service.

Yusril said that if the allegations are confirmed, the government must address both the protection of Indonesians who may have been deceived or exploited and the legal consequences of knowingly joining a foreign military without presidential permission.

“If our citizens were recruited through job offers but then directed into military service and sent to a conflict zone, we must determine whether they are victims,” he said.

He stressed that the government has an obligation to protect Indonesians who are victims of recruitment or exploitation.

At the same time, Yusril said Indonesia has rules governing citizens who join foreign military services without presidential permission.

Article 23 of the 2006 Citizenship Law provides for the loss of Indonesian citizenship in cases including joining a foreign military without prior presidential permission.

However, Yusril stressed that the provision can be applied only after the facts have been verified and through legally prescribed procedures.

Citizenship status cannot be determined solely from media reports or one-sided information, he said, but requires an investigation and a process consistent with Indonesian law.

“If the facts prove that the requirements for loss of citizenship have been met, the government will take action through the legal mechanism,” he said.

Yusril said the loss of citizenship cannot be based solely on an assumption that someone has joined a foreign military.

He said the Citizenship Law must be implemented through an administrative process, including a decision by the Law Minister on the loss of citizenship.

He stressed that allegations must not be treated as established legal facts and that the government would act only on verified facts and applicable law.