Russian Nude Photoshoot Next to Bali's 'Sacred Tree'... Ultimately Deported

Unusual Behavior of Russians Continues in Bali
Request to Suspend Russian Visa Issuance in Bali

A Russian woman was deported after taking nude photos at a 'sacred tree' on Bali Island, Indonesia.

According to local time on the 17th, ABC News and others reported that Luiza Koshik (40), a fashion designer from Russia, took nude photos at a 700-year-old banyan tree located at Babakan Temple in the Tabanan area of Bali and posted them on Instagram.

An Indonesian businessman active in Bali shared the photo on his social media on the 12th, criticizing, "Taking naked photos at the (sacred tree) is an act of disrespect to our homeland. If you cannot respect our traditions and culture, please leave."

A photo of Russian fashion designer Luiza Koshik taken at the 'Sacred Tree' in Bali. In other photos, no fabric is visible, making it appear as a nude photo.
[Photo source=Instagram capture]

Koshik's nude photos sparked widespread anger among Indonesians, and she was eventually arrested by immigration authorities on the 13th.

Koshik claimed, "The nude photos were taken several years ago," and "I did not know this tree was sacred," but she was deported late at night on the 16th and flew back to Moscow.

The tree she climbed naked to take photos is believed to be sacred by the residents of Bali.

Bali residents follow Hinduism and believe that divinity dwells in all things. Trees and mountains are considered places where gods reside, and especially this banyan tree, whose bark peels off like white paper, is believed to be particularly sacred and powerful.

Russian 'Blasphemy' and 'Prostitution' Become Social Issues in Bali

Russian man Yuri Chilikin took a photo last month exposing his lower body at Mount Agung on Bali Island, Indonesia. [Photo source=Instagram capture]

Recently, Bali authorities have been troubled by such misconduct by Russian tourists.

Previously, in May last year, Russian influencer Alina Fazliba and her husband Andrei Fazlib were deported after taking nude photos at the banyan tree and posting them on social media, similar to Koshik.

In February, three Russian women were caught engaging in prostitution in Bali and were deported. A Bali police officer lamented to the media, "Whenever we receive reports of foreigners behaving badly, it is almost always Russians."

Last month, Russian man Yuri Chilikin (24) posted photos on social media exposing his lower body after pulling down his pants on Mount Agung in northeast Bali, drawing criticism from locals. Mount Agung, a large volcano with an elevation of 3,142 meters, is considered a sacred site by locals and Hindus as "the dwelling place of the fire god." Yuri admitted his mistake but was deported from Bali and banned from entering for six months.

The issues pointed out by Bali authorities do not end there.

Currently, Indonesia issues arrival visas to citizens of 86 countries. This system allows entry by obtaining a visa on arrival at Indonesian airports without prior visa application. This visa permits only simple visits or tourism and does not allow business or labor activities.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February last year, approximately 60,000 Russians have crossed the border seeking jobs due to economic difficulties, and after the partial military mobilization order declared in September last year, about 20,000 people have been arriving monthly to avoid conscription.

They stay illegally on these visas, working as tour guides, babysitters, and are involved in various crimes including drugs, emerging as a social problem in Bali.

In response, Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali, requested the central government last month to suspend the issuance of arrival visas to Russians.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.