Indonesia strips ex-police officer of citizenship for joining Russian forces
The former Aceh police officer lost his nationality after sending a video claiming he had joined the Wagner Group in Ukraine
Muhammad Rio, a former member of the Aceh Police’s Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), a paramilitary arm of Indonesia’s national police, lost his citizenship after joining a foreign armed force without authorisation, Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said.
“Anyone – whether a Brimob officer or an ordinary civilian – who joins a foreign military without the president’s permission automatically loses their Indonesian citizenship. That is clearly stipulated in the law,” Supratman told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.
Rio had been absent without leave since December 8 after leaving his post, according to Tempo news magazine. The Aceh police issued two summonses for him on December 25 and January 6.
On January 7, he sent a WhatsApp message and video to several superiors and colleagues saying he had joined Russia’s mercenary force, the Wagner Group, and outlining his pay.
“He described the registration process and the salary he received in roubles converted to rupiah,” Aceh Regional Police public relations head Joko Krisdiyanto said on Saturday.