Russian Ambassador Opens Voice About Ex-Marine Satria Kumbara Becomes A Mercenary

JAKARTA - Russian Federation Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov said the decision of former TNI-AL Marine soldier Satria Kumbara to become a mercenaries in Russia was at his own will.

"I emphasize that the Russian Embassy in Jakarta and anywhere does not recruit Russian Armed Forces personnel," said Ambassador Tolchenov as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 20.

Tolchenov admitted that he had just learned about the information related to Satria from the news in Indonesia. He has confirmed the news to the defense attach, who also admitted that he did not have any information about Satria.

The Russian ambassador does not deny that foreigners can voluntarily register as personnel of the Russian Armed Forces.

"Professional personnel who are Russian citizens or, in some cases, foreigners can sign a contract (joining the Russian military)," he said.

However, according to Tolchenov, his party does not have any responsibility for all the consequences that Satria will face in Indonesia due to his willingness to become a mercenaries.

"If (Satria) Kumbara violates Indonesian law, it is his own responsibility because as an Indonesian citizen he should understand what he can do and not," Tolchenov said.

His party has not received any requests for assistance either from the Indonesian government or from Satria or his family to resolve this problem.

Satria, a former Indonesian Navy Marine soldier who was dishonorably dismissed for his desertion and joined as a mercenaries in Russia, recently stated that he wanted to return to Indonesia and asked to return to become an Indonesian citizen.

In a viral apology video, Satria admits to signing a contract with the Russian military for economic reasons without understanding legal consequences.

However, his citizenship status has been revoked because he violated Article 23 of Law Number 12 of 2006 which states that Indonesian citizens who join foreign military services without the President's permission automatically lose their status as Indonesian citizens.

To return to being an Indonesian citizen, Satria must apply for naturalization, but he is still under military contracts in Russia. If he returns to Indonesia, he must face legal consequences for the desertion.