Death Of Russian Tourist In Ubud Guesthouse Confirmed

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Police in Bali have confirmed the death of a Russian tourist in Ubud. The police told the media late on Friday night, 23rd September, that they had been called to a guesthouse close to the Pendet Museum in Mas Village, Ubud.

Speaking to reporters, Ubud Police Chief Kompol Gusti Ngurah Yudistira confirmed the death of a 34-year old-old Russian citizen with the initials AB. The police are not treating the situation as suspicious, but the deceased’s body has been transferred to Articanti Hospital for further examination and possible autopsy.

Police Chief Yudistira relayed the witness statement from the guesthouse worker Yohan Rusli who discovered AB. He said that Rusli asked the nightguard, Wayan Darsana, if he had been AB that evening. When Darsana said that he did not know AB’s whereabouts, they went to check his room. Rusli, Darsana, and another member of staff are said to have knocked on the door and even called AB’s phone, but there was no answer. They took the decision to enter the room and discovered AB unresponsive. 

Police Chief Yudistira said, ‘Rusli had time to call the victim, but there was no response and also saw bruises on the back of the head, seeing this the witness contacted the Ubud Police’. He described how AB was discovered ‘he was found in a prone position sitting in a chair, his head was on the table facing downwards, without wearing any clothes’. In a photo shared with the media, AB’s body is blurred, but the contents of the table can be made out.

The call to the police was answered by Police Supervisor I Dewa Gede Bagus Pranatha. He and his team responded to the report immediately. Police Chief Yudistira said, ‘We are also coordinating PMI Gianyar Regency to arrive at the scene and immediately evacuate the victim’s body to be taken to Aricanti Hospital for further examination’.

It has not yet been established when AB died. It has been confirmed that Rusli last had contact with him on Sunday 18th, when they met in Canggu. AB had reportedly not responded to Rusli’s calls at all this week. Police have confirmed that they do not believe that there was any violence involved in the death of AB. They stated that the bruising on the back of his death is not immediately suspicious and are suggesting that this is a result of the position that he was lying in after his death.

Police have not given any further details about AB, how long he had been in Bali, whether he was traveling alone or whether they have been able to contact next of kin. The incident was reported at 9.30 pm on Friday night, and his body was transferred from the scene just an hour later. There will likely be further updates after the weekend.

Bali is an increasingly popular destination for Russian travelers as holidaymakers and longer-term digital nomads or entrepreneurs. While the vast majority of travelers from Russia respect the local laws and customs, as are the majority of all travelers, there have been several reports of visitors from Russia violating local law and order in recent weeks. 

Last week Bali Immigration announced the deportation of two young Russian siblings who had been abandoned in Amed by their parents. The siblings, aged 14 and 16, had overstayed their visas on arrival by over 800 days. The Department of Immigration consulted with the Russian Consulate to coordinate their swift deportation back to Moscow. 

Just last weekend, a group of Russian tourists went viral on social media for fighting in the street. A video taken on Jalan Dewa Sri caught the attention of local and international media outlets as a group of young men attacked a moped driver in the middle of the street.