Russian National Claims Kidnapping and Torture in Bali Over Crypto Account

A Russian citizen, identified by the initials AI (41), has claimed he was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in Bali. AI reported that he was assaulted and forced to hand over his cryptocurrency account details before being abandoned by the perpetrators. AI filed a police report regarding the incident. He stated he was returning home from his workplace at the Hedonist Restaurant in Badung on Thursday evening (2/7/2026) when a black car intercepted him on Jalan Uluwatu at around 9.35 pm local time. Two hooded individuals immediately abducted him. “Two masked perpetrators handcuffed the victim with plastic handcuffs and covered his head,” said the Head of Public Relations for the Bali Regional Police, Commissioner Ariasandy, in a statement on Thursday (9/7). After the kidnapping, AI was held in a second-floor room of a house, which he described as resembling a cell. He was held hostage there for approximately 30 hours. During that time, AI claims he was punched and kicked to force him to surrender the password to his cryptocurrency account. In addition to the physical abuse, the perpetrators took the victim’s mobile phone and the keys to his villa. The perpetrators also allegedly entered AI’s villa and took another phone containing the crypto account password. The victim was subsequently dumped on Jalan Prabu Udayana, Jimbaran, on Saturday (4/7) at 4.00 am local time. After being abandoned, AI immediately sought medical attention at the Udayana University State University Teaching Hospital (RSPTN). “The victim was dumped near the Unud Hospital and immediately received treatment in the emergency room,” Ariasandy added.