Belarusian National Questioned by Bali Immigration Over Alleged Removal of Indonesians from WhatsApp Group
A Belarusian national living in Amed, Bali, is being questioned by the Singaraja Class II Immigration Office over allegations he removed Indonesian citizens from a WhatsApp community group. A Regional Representative Council member had called for scrutiny of both the alleged discrimination and the legality of his commercial activities.
A Belarusian national (identified in immigration records as Siarhei Melnikau) residing in the tourist area of Amed, Karangasem Regency, Bali, has been summoned for questioning by the Singaraja Class II Immigration Office, officials confirmed as of 31 July.
The case originated from a post by Italian content creator Christian Giacobbe, who alleged on Instagram that the foreign national removed all members with +62 (Indonesian) phone numbers from the WhatsApp group 'Garage Sales in Amed.' The post quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism.
Ni Luh Djelantik, a member of Indonesia's Regional Representative Council (DPD) for Bali, publicly called on the Directorate General of Immigration and Bali Immigration to investigate both the alleged discriminatory conduct and whether the individual's commercial garage sale activities complied with Indonesian regulations, including tax and permit requirements.
Head of the Singaraja Immigration Office, Anak Agung Gde Kusuma Putra, confirmed the individual is currently being questioned and clarified his nationality as Belarusian. He said the investigation is still in its early stages, focused on verifying the online claims and checking for any breaches of immigration regulations.
Things to Consider
If you participate in expat-run community groups (e.g. WhatsApp) in Bali, review group rules in advance and keep records (screenshots) of any disputes. If you plan to run commercial activities such as garage sales or flea markets in Bali, ensure your visa type permits such activity, since working or conducting business on a tourist visa is illegal under Indonesian law. If you experience discriminatory treatment, be aware that local community groups and Bali Immigration (Imigrasi) can be contacted to report concerns.
Source: Social Expat