Hundreds of Russian tourists in the tourist island of Bali have found themselves stranded on the island after losing the ability to withdraw funds due to the sanctions imposed on Russia following its war on Ukraine. Russian tourists have been unable to withdraw cash abroad because of the sanctions on "Russian funds." Last week, Visa and MasterCard announced that they have suspended operations in Russia, while several banks in the country have been cut off from international payment systems.
According to Reuters, these decisions have left Russian travelers in Bali, Indonesia, feeling "devastated" and unable to access money from ATMs. Konstantin Ivanov, a 27-year-old tourist, revealed that he has been unable to access his funds for days, saying, "It has caused a huge problem for us... We are completely cut off from our financial resources... It feels like they are completely frozen, and we cannot use our finances here." Ivanov added that he may have to take a job while he is there to cover living expenses.
Meanwhile, the manager of a local café noted that he has seen fewer Russian customers in recent days, and those who do visit often pay in cash rather than by credit card. Reuters pointed out that around 1,150 Russians entered Indonesia in January 2022, with other tourists stranded in different countries. In Thailand, nearly 7,000 Russians are stuck due to flight cancellations.
Although sanctions have prevented Russian travelers from using the global payment system SWIFT, embassy spokesperson Denis Tetyushin indicated that there is alternative assistance available. He explained that the "Post Bank" in the country offers a virtual card through the Chinese UnionPay system, adding, "It is free, and people can set it up wherever they are."
