Indonesia MoFA Summons Ukrainian Ambassador over His Tweet

TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Hamianin regarding his tweet on social media Twitter which was deemed offensive to Indonesia. Director General of America and Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ngurah Swajaya conveyed directly the government of Indonesia's displeasure with Hamianin's tweet, which was criticized for questioning Indonesia's foreign policy, on August 9, 2022.

"What the Ukrainian Ambassador did was very inappropriate as an ambassador running a diplomatic mission in a country," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah in an online media briefing, Thursday, August 11, 2022.

With the summon, Indonesia hopes that Ambassador Hamianin can improve his attitude in using various media, both formal media and social media, to fight for the interests of his country in Indonesia without causing tension or dislike from the Indonesian side. Faizasyah also emphasized that it is appropriate for an ambassador, who is a guest in the country where he is assigned, to comply with various provisions, rules, and etiquette in that country.

Previously, Ambassador Hamianin replied a tweet from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the criticism of the Israeli attack in Gaza which caused civilian casualties including children. Through the @VHamianin account on Twitter, he questioned why Indonesia did not strongly condemn the brutal attacks against Ukraine over the past five months which resulted in the deaths of thousands of children.

HOW ABOUT STRONG CONDEMNATION OF BRUTAL ATTACKS ON UKRAINE DURING THE LAST 5 MONTHS? AND DEATHS OF HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING MUSLIM KIDS? pic.twitter.com/RhJ1tIyBZU — Vasyl Hamianin (@VHamianin) August 7, 2022 "

In another tweet responding to a tweet from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding ASEAN-Russia cooperation, Hamianin reiterated his accusations against Russia which he said violated the principles of peace and prosperity for having killed and tortured tens of thousands of people during the war with Ukraine.

Faizasyah stated that Hamianin's tweets had hurt Indonesian feelings. "There is no place for a foreign ambassador to convey an expressive and negative attitude in the country where he is serving," said Faizasyah.

Furthermore, he said, the Indonesian government would continue to pay attention to the diplomatic mission of the Ukrainian Ambassador, as was also done to various foreign representatives in Indonesia.

"Regarding the next steps will be discussed internally after observing the changes of the person concerned in carrying out his diplomatic mission in Indonesia," said Faizasyah.