Sudaryanto also clarified that BNPT does not evaluate returnees based on financial incentives they may have received abroad. Instead, their focus is on ideological motivations, particularly among those who joined foreign conflicts under the guise of defending fellow Muslims.

In a related development, Member of Parliament TB Hasanuddin stated that the government has no obligation to provide legal or diplomatic protection to individuals like Satria if they have lost their Indonesian citizenship. He referred to existing regulations that revoke nationality for those serving in foreign armed forces.

“If it’s confirmed that he no longer holds Indonesian citizenship, then the government is not required to protect him,” Hasanuddin said during a press briefing on July 23. He called on the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to thoroughly verify Kumbara’s legal status to determine the state’s responsibilities.

Hasanuddin cited Government Regulation No. 21 of 2022, which outlines the automatic loss of citizenship for Indonesians who voluntarily serve in foreign militaries. He urged the government to act decisively in upholding these rules, particularly in sensitive cases involving national security risks.

There is currently no verified data regarding the exact number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) acting as mercenaries in Europe, whether fighting on the side of Russia or Ukraine. While the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that 10 Indonesians had joined the Ukrainian forces as foreign fighters — with four allegedly killed — this information has been strongly disputed by various parties, including the Ukrainian ambassador to Indonesia, who labeled the claim as propaganda. Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also stated that the claim requires further verification, and the Indonesian military (TNI) denied being the source of such data. As of now, no official or independent sources can confirm the presence or exact number of Indonesians serving as mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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