Internet activists from Bali fight against illegal business of Russians on Instagram

Residents of Bali complain about the massive influx of Russians to the island. Wealthy fugitives who decided to leave the terrorist state have opened many illegal businesses and advertise them on social media. This state of affairs does not suit the Balinese, so local authorities and activists have launched a campaign to combat the citizens of the occupying country. In particular, concerned Balinese created the Instagram account moscow_cabang_bali, where they record the activities of Russians — viral videos, examples of illegal business, abuses, etc. At the time of writing, the account has 17.8 thousand followers.

The account describes itself as a provider of «free marketing services» for small and medium-sized businesses, a sarcastic allusion to Russians living in Bali without proper documents. Among the account’s posts are many screenshots of advertisements by Russians offering illegal commercial services in Bali, such as tours, surfing lessons, and villa rentals.

The moscow_cabang_bali account is criticized, but also receives positive feedback. Most of the negative comments are posted by Russians, who accuse the Balinese of a «witch hunt.» On the contrary, the townspeople are grateful to the activists for defending their rights and supporting local workers who pay taxes to the state treasury.

Coconuts Bali media talked to the creators of the Instagram account and asked the activists about the goals of the fight against the arrogant Russians. Here’s what the concerned Balinese had to say:

«We are tired of seeing Instagram ads from foreigners who openly promote their illegal business. Tattoo parlors, sightseeing tours, motorcycle rentals, laundry services, beauticians, yoga, photography, driving lessons, spiritual practices, and even poker bets — they have the courage to promote all of this. If it’s illegal, it’s better to just keep quiet and know your place. Instead, Russians put up banners, target Instagram ads, and even distribute leaflets.»

The activists are not satisfied with the fact that the government of Bali turns a blind eye to the illegal activities of Russians on the island. «It seems that our law is toothless,» people are indignant. The townspeople talk about the so-called «Russian bubbles» where citizens of the terrorist state conduct transactions using cryptocurrency or the Russian ruble. They also do not hesitate to install Russian license plates on their vehicles.

The initiative group behind the moscow_cabang_bali account seeks to gain the attention of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno, Director of the Immigration Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Silmi Karim, and relevant ministers. The Balinese are seeking sanctions against illegal workers fleeing forced mobilization and hope that Russians will «know their place» on the island.