Satria Kumbara, Former TNI AL Soldier Who Participated in Russian Military Operations, Must Apply Naturalization to Regain His Indonesian Citizenship

TIMEMOMENTS.COM- As reported by Time Moments from a video posted on the TikTok account @zstrom689 on July 20, 2025, Satria Arta Kumbara expressed his desire to regain his Indonesian citizenship.

In the video, he appealed to Foreign Minister Sugiono, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and President Prabowo Subianto to reinstate his Indonesian citizenship.

"I sincerely apologize if my ignorance led to the revocation of my citizenship after signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Please grant me permission, sir. I have never betrayed the country at all, as my intention was to come here solely to earn a living," he said in the video.

"I bid farewell to my mother, washed my feet, sought her blessings, and departed for here.

The revocation of my citizenship does not compare to what I have received.

Please grant the permission, Mr. Prabowo Subianto, Mr. Gibran, Mr. Sugiono, please grant me your kindness to help terminate my contract and restore my citizenship rights so I can return to Indonesia.

Please grant me permission, as the only one who can terminate my contract at this time is Mr. Prabowo at the Russian Ministry of Defense, addressing Mr. Vladimir Putin, and with the help of Allah," said Satria.

“Honestly, I do not want to lose my citizenship, because Indonesian citizenship is everything to me and its value is immeasurable,” he added.

Satria Kumbara's request to become an Indonesian citizen again has caused a stir.

The Indonesian government even plans to hold a coordination meeting (rakor) to discuss the request of the former member of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL).

As reported by Timemoments.com citing Antara's July 29, 2025 edition, Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas stated that the coordination meeting will involve his office, the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Indonesian Embassy in Russia.

“Yesterday, the State Secretary also mentioned it,” Supratman said during a press conference at the opening of the First Semester Performance Control Coordination Meeting of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Depok, West Java, on Tuesday.

He noted that the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has not received any request from Satria to renounce his citizenship.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that according to Law Number 12 of 2006 on Indonesian Citizenship, any Indonesian citizen involved as a soldier in another country without the permission of the President of the Republic of Indonesia automatically loses their Indonesian citizenship.

“That's not my word, that's what the law says. So it's automatic,” he said.

Therefore, he said, there is no need for a request to renounce citizenship or a report, as no such request has been made to date.

"Satria Kumbara's citizenship status has been revoked for violating Article 23 of Law Number 12 of 2006, which states that joining a foreign military service without the President's permission automatically revokes Indonesian citizenship.

To regain Indonesian citizenship, Satria must apply for naturalization, but he is still bound by a military contract in Russia and faces legal consequences for desertion in Indonesia," told Antara on it's article.

Previously, Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi stated that the Indonesian government is seeking the best solution regarding Satria Kumbara's request to regain Indonesian citizenship.

Commander of the Marine Corps (Dankormar) of the Indonesian Navy, Major General Endi Supardi, stated that his former subordinate, Satria Arta Kumbara, will still serve a one-year imprisonment sentence if he returns to Indonesia.

Endi explained on Thursday, July 24, 2025, that Satria Arya Kumbara had gone missing from the Marine Corps unit since 2022 and was eventually dismissed in 2023.

“Legally, he is no longer a Marine Corps soldier but has officially become a civilian, with an additional penalty of being dismissed from service and serving a one-year prison sentence,” said Endi.

Endi explained that if the government decides to grant Satria's request to return to Indonesia and obtain citizenship status in the near future, Satria will still serve a one-year prison sentence.

However, if the desertion case remains unresolved within 11 years and Satria does not return, the case will be closed, and Satria will not need to serve the sentence.

“If that time period has passed, the case is already statute-barred,” explained Endi.

This refers to Law No. 31 of 1997 on Military Courts.

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