Russian, Australian tourists deported for breaking the law in Indonesia

A 24-year-old Russian man who dropped his pants and posed for semi-naked photos on Mount Agung, a sacred destination on Bali, was barred from entering Indonesia for at least six months, the immigration office in Bali said in a statement Wednesday, Jakarta Post reported.

After being detained by Balinese police after his image surfaced on social media last month, the man apologized before being ordered to take part in a cleansing ritual in front of the mountain.

Mount Agung in the Karangasem Regency in the northeast corner of Bali is considered a dwelling place of gods.

Late last week, an Australian woman was deported by Indonesian immigration after a viral video showed her arguing with police officers who had reprimanded her for riding a motorbike without a helmet.

So far this year, the number of travelers deported from Bali has gone up to 72. Twenty of the deportees are Russians, immigration sources in Bali said.

Known for its beautiful beaches, temples, waterfalls and nightlife, Bali drew 6.2 million foreign visitors in 2019, the year before the pandemic broke out.

However, the island has been stepping up its crackdown on foreigners who disrespect local laws and disrupt public order.