The key facts

  • A Russian woman from Lipetsk recorded a video for her friend in the queue at the checkpoint of Denpasar airport in Bali
  • Filming at the checkpoint was captured by surveillance cameras; the woman was detained and deported
  • According to Mash, the violation is punishable by a $300 fine, a year in prison, and expulsion

What happened at Denpasar airport

A Russian woman from Lipetsk who arrived in Bali for vacation was forcibly expelled from Indonesia over a video filmed at the airport. This was reported by Mash citing a post on the channel, with Gazeta.Ru relaying the information.

The course of events according to Mash

According to the channel, the woman arrived at the resort and joined the queue at the checkpoint. By that time her friend had already cleared the checkpoint, and the Russian woman recorded a short video for her saying she was still at the checkpoint. A couple of minutes later she was taken aside for inspection, where her passport was taken away and she was told to stay where she was and wait.

Reason for the detention and possible punishment

It turned out that filming in the checkpoint area is prohibited. Having spotted the violation on camera, law enforcement officers decided to detain the Russian woman. “Filming is not allowed at the customs counters, nor toward security officers, border guards, or computers”, the post says. According to the cited data, the law provides for a fine of $300, one year of imprisonment, and possible deportation for such a violation. As a result, the woman from Lipetsk was expelled from the country.

Context and significance

Gazeta.Ru also recalls another recent border incident: it was previously reported that an Estonian climbed over the checkpoint gates and walked to the Russian side. The case of the Russian woman shows how strict the rules at the Indonesian border can be: a short video filmed in a queue resulted in expulsion from the country. The practical takeaway for travelers, following from the described facts, is that filming is prohibited in the checkpoint area of Denpasar airport, and violations are recorded by surveillance cameras and can lead to a fine, imprisonment, or deportation.