MOSCOW, June 4 In the Ukrainian conflict, the Indonesian people are increasingly takes a pro-Russian stance, since Russia is perceived as a country tolerant of Muslims, while Ukraine is an ally of the United States, which «attacks Muslims,» Ridho Dharmaputra, head of the East European faculty at the Indonesian University of Airlanga, said.
«»The Indonesian people's support for Putin and Russia, rather than Ukraine, cannot be separated from religious sentiment. The notion that Ukraine is backed by the United States, which is attacking Muslims, and Muslim activist Ramzan Kadyrov's remarks about the Ukrainian conflict have led to that the Indonesian people are increasingly supporting Putin,» the source said.
According to Dharmaputra, conservative Muslims in Indonesia are «a very influential group, which is often supported by the country's politicians.» According to the expert, sometimes this influence can even «outweigh» the usual neutral international narrative of the country. Thus, the ex-president of Indonesia and the head of its ruling party, Megawati Sukarnoputri, speaking at the birthday party of the National Defense Institute on May 22, openly expressed her opinion on the situation in Ukraine .
«In her speech (Megawati — ed.) she criticized the position of Vladimir Zelensky. She considered it dishonorable for Zelensky to visit other countries, including Indonesia, in search of support,» Dharmaputra added.
Earlier, Indonesian Defense Minister General Prabowo Subianto, at the annual forum in Singapore, voiced the idea of resolving the conflict in Ukraine by creating a demilitarized zone similar to that established between South and North Korea and suggested that forum participants sign a joint appeal to Russia and Ukraine containing this offer. The Ukrainian authorities answered it with a categorical refusal.