Russian travel blogger Alexander Pototsky has been jailed in Indonesia after filming a political rally, according to Telegram channel Ostorozhno Novosti.
The 39 year old blogger was taken into custody from his residence and transferred to a migration prison in Jakarta. Indonesian immigration authorities suspect him of carrying out journalistic activities while visiting the country on a tourist visa.
Festival shooting in Baliem Valley
Prior to his detention, Pototsky had been traveling through the high altitude Baliem Valley in Highland Papua province, situated on the island of New Guinea. He was documenting the daily life and cultural traditions of local indigenous tribes in the remote region.
The situation escalated on August 8 when Pototsky was filming at a local festival and shooting broke out. Armed individuals opened fire in the direction of tourists who were attending the event. Pototsky later reported on his social media accounts that no one was injured during the gunfire.
In the days following the shooting incident, immigration service workers visited the Russian national twice at his home. During their second visit, officials took him into custody from his residence and subsequently transferred him to the migration detention facility in Jakarta.
Political rally in Wamena
Authorities believe Pototsky carried out unauthorized reporting during his travels. Specifically, investigators suspect he filmed a political action held on August 15 by the West Papua National Committee in the town of Wamena, the largest urban centre in the Baliem Valley.
The West Papua National Committee is a political organization that campaigns for the self-determination and independence of the Papuan region. Under Indonesian law, foreign citizens are strictly forbidden from performing journalistic work or media reporting while staying in the country on standard tourist visas.
Pototsky has not made any public posts on his social media accounts since being transferred to the detention facility. However, the blogger informed acquaintances in an email that he has been unable to contact the Russian embassy to ask for legal assistance.
Southeast Asian visa enforcement
Pototsky's detention comes amid strict enforcement of migration regulations across Southeast Asia. In a separate case reported by the source, authorities in Thailand previously deported a Russian national for violating immigration laws after he lived in the country without a valid visa for 22 months.
