Ukraine's ambassador to Indonesia, Vasyl Hamianin, called it illogical to lump Ukrainians and Russians together and said it was offensive. The visa-on-arrival policy allows citizens of 86 countries to obtain a visa upon arrival in Indonesia for a fee.
Koster said that violations committed by tourists from Ukraine and Russia included overstaying their visas, working illegally, and causing public disturbances in Bali. He added that many of them come to Bali in large numbers and include people who are not there for tourism but for seeking comfort and work. The Russian embassy in Jakarta did not respond to requests for comment.
Hamianin said that Ukrainian tourists had a right to travel and that it was the embassy's duty to protect their interests. He added that he had requested a meeting with Koster to discuss the issue. Indonesia has not yet responded to the letter.
The proposal has drawn criticism from Ukrainians living in Bali, who say that it unfairly targets law-abiding visitors. Ukrainian ex-pat Daria Mikhaylova said that she was outraged by the proposal, which she described as "ridiculous" and "unfair". She added that she had never had any problems with the authorities in Bali and that most Ukrainians were respectful visitors.
Russian tourists are also frequent visitors to Bali, with over 140,000 Russians visiting the island in 2019, according to the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency. However, relations between Russia and Indonesia have been strained in recent years over a dispute about the purchase of Russian fighter jets.
Indonesia has been grappling with a surge in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting the government to tighten restrictions on foreign arrivals. The country has recorded over 4.1 million cases and 139,000 deaths since the pandemic began.