Jakarta – A former Indonesian Marine, Satria Arta Kumbara, who joined the Russian army, has requested to regain his Indonesian citizenship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged his appeal, which he posted on his social media accounts.
Satria apologized for signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense, which he stated resulted in the revocation of his citizenship. “Please ask for your permission. I want to apologize profusely if my ignorance signs a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense resulting in the revocation of my citizen,” Satria said on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
He maintained that his decision to join the Russian military was solely to earn a living and not an act of betrayal. “Please permission, I have never betrayed the country at all because I intend to come here just to make a living,” he stated.
Satria directly appealed to prominent figures, including Mr. Prabowo Subianto, Mr. Gibran, and Mr. Sugiono, asking for their assistance in ending his contract and restoring his citizenship rights to return to Indonesia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Rolliansyah Soemirat clarified that matters of citizenship fall under the purview of the Ministry of Law. “Regarding the status of citizenship concerned, this is the realm of the authority of the Ministry of Law,” Soemirat told reporters on Tuesday, July 22.
Despite this, the ministry confirmed it is monitoring Satria’s situation. The Indonesian Embassy in Moscow has also been in communication with him. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow continues to monitor the existence and communicate with the person concerned,” Soemirat added.
