Indonesia to Probe Citizenship of Citizens Serving in Foreign Militaries

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has pledged to actively investigate the citizenship status of two nationals reported to have joined foreign armed forces: Kezia Syifa and Muhammad Rio.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said his office will immediately coordinate with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Law, Immigration and Corrections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indonesian Embassy, to verify the reports.

“We must gather data and establish certainty, whether they are indeed serving in foreign militaries and whether their status as Indonesian citizens still stands. This requires clear confirmation,” Minister Yusril said in Jakarta on Monday, January 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Once clarity is obtained, he added, the Minister of Law will be asked to take concrete measures, including the possible revocation of their Indonesian citizenship to ensure legal certainty.

Reports claim Kezia Syifa has enlisted in the United States military, while Muhammad Rio, formerly a member of the Aceh Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), is said to have joined the Russian Federation’s armed forces.

Yusril noted that the cases of Kezia and Rio, the latter described in media coverage as a “mercenary” in Russia, have drawn public attention following widespread reports and social media posts. The issue has sparked debate over whether Indonesians automatically lose their citizenship upon joining foreign militaries.

While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, Minister Yusril stressed that the government will neither speculate nor remain passive. He emphasized that social media posts and media reports cannot serve as the basis for stripping someone of citizenship. Decisions, he said, must rest on verified and accurate information.

“In line with the mandate of the law, the government is obliged to proactively trace and verify their citizenship status according to established procedures and regulations,” the Minister stated.

“All matters must be placed within a legal framework, not assumptions or public conclusions,” he concluded. ***