Thousands of Russian nationals in Bali have begun to experience the impact of the economic sanctions that have been recently filed against the Russian government.
A Russian national named Konstantin Ivanov (aged 27) admitted that he could not withdraw cash from the ATMs in Bali as the machines kept on denying his card.
“This is a big problem for us. All of our cash was frozen, and we can’t have access to our bank accounts through the ATMs here,” Ivanov said on Wednesday (10/3).
The Russian government received sanctions from Western countries due to the ongoing military assault on Ukraine.
This situation has forced the majority of Russian nationals in Bali to look for new jobs and conduct transactions with cryptocurrency. Several restaurants and cafes also admitted that many Russian customers prefer to pay with cash instead of credit cards.
Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the Russian Embassy in Jakarta, Denis Tetiushin, said that the Bank Pochta Russia had offered a virtual card that works with the China Union Pay system. This will help Russian citizens conduct select financial transactions. “This virtual card is free, and anyone can open an account anywhere,” Denis said on Thursday (10/3).
Bali has been receiving a large number of Russian visitors despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Per the data from the Statistics Center Agency, 1,150 Russian nationals entered Indonesia in January 2022.
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Antonio Julio
Saturday 12th of March 2022
Personally i think this is a wrong move. Dont forget that a lot of Russian people dont agree with this war. The holligarks deserved to be punished but the normal people don't. Mist if them are tottalyvagainst Putin and his decision to invade a sovereign country. Putin is a murderer the russian people is not. Just my opinion.
Tauras
Monday 14th of March 2022
@Antonio Julio, tell it to Ukrainian mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, who see their family die in front of them and their homes being bombed.
To people who would rather have their cash frozen in Bali, than be surrounded by terrorist troups without electricity and heating in winter.
Sorry, not sorry for russian people right now.
J West
Friday 11th of March 2022
Ironic. Bali has become over dependent on Russian tourists the way Germany has become over dependent on Russian oil.
Wayan Bo
Thursday 10th of March 2022
* resistant
Wayan Bo
Thursday 10th of March 2022
American Express Traveler Checks are the best solution, good as cash and embargo resistent.