A Russian woman was deported from Bali after her nude photos on a sacred tree went viral. She was visiting Bali on an investor visa. The woman claimed that she didn’t know it was sacred to Hindus.
Luiza Kosykh, a 40 year old woman who entered Bali on an investment visa, had posed nude and indecently dressed in front of a 700 year old banyan tree. It is revered by Hindus as a sacred spot. After her pictures went viral on social media authorities were informed and she was put on a flight to Moscow by immigration officials.
The woman was issued a temporary stay visa in January on her arrival which would have lasted till December. She claimed that the pictures were taken a few years ago and that she didn’t know that the tree was sacred to Hindus. Authorities said that she was deported for disrespecting religious sentiments and spreading pornography.
Indonesia issues visas on arrival to Russians and the footfall of Russians and Ukrainians visiting the country has reportedly increased after the war started. Only a few weeks ago another Russian was deported for disrespecting another holy site. Yuri, a Russian man, had stripped off his clothes and posed with his pants down on the top of Mountain Agung.
It is considered sacred by Hindus as it is regarded as the abode of Bhagwan Shiva. It is believed that the mountain was formed when Bhagwan Shiva split the Meru Parvata. Yuri was apprehended by the authorities after his nude photo went viral. He is said to have apologised but was deported and banned from entering Indonesia considering “the sentimental volatility related to the mountain top”, WION reported.
The chief of the Bali Law and Human Rights Office said “He violated norms and showed no respect for our culture”. With such incidents on the rise, Bali is considering temporarily putting on hold the visa-on-arrival service for Russians and Ukrainians.
