DENPASAR, Bali — A video showing a Russian tourist being slammed to the ground on a roadside in Uluwatu, Bali, has gone viral, drawing strong reactions online.
The footage, first shared by martial arts coach and gym owner Belda Brig Sando on March 30, 2026, shows him confronting a shirtless man believed to be intoxicated.
In the video, Belda is seen putting the man in a chokehold. The tourist’s face turns red before he collapses, while people around them shout for the situation to stop.
“Respect the locals,” Belda can be heard saying. He accuses the man of acting inappropriately, including allegedly touching a woman.
After holding him for several seconds, Belda releases the tourist, who lies still briefly before regaining consciousness. When he comes to, the man appears disoriented and says, “I understand.”
Belda later said he stepped in to stop behavior that had already crossed the line.
“He went too far”
In a follow-up statement on social media, Belda explained that the situation escalated after the man allegedly disturbed several people.
“He was drunk — touching people, walking in the middle of the road, bothering others like it was nothing. No one reacted at first, until he touched one of my friends,” he wrote.
He admitted his reaction may have been excessive, but said he acted in the heat of the moment.
“I’m not saying what I did was right. I’m human — sometimes emotions take over. But I didn’t start it. He crossed the line first,” he added.
Belda also stressed that Bali remains a welcoming place — but respect is non-negotiable.
Growing concern over tourist behavior
The incident adds to a string of recent cases involving foreign tourists behaving inappropriately in Bali.
Earlier this year, a group of tourists was filmed fighting outside a small shop in Kuta, alarming locals nearby.
In another case, a Swiss tourist sparked outrage after leaving his accommodation during Nyepi — Bali’s sacred Day of Silence — and posting about it online. He was later detained and is facing deportation.
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