BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Russian influencer Sergei Domogatskii, widely known as Mr. Terimakasih, has publicly responded to circulating allegations that his reported kidnapping in Bali was fabricated. Speaking in an online press conference on Thursday, 4 December 2025, he firmly rejected claims that the incident was orchestrated.
Sergei argued that the narrative accusing him of staging the kidnapping was deliberately spread to damage his reputation, especially as he is also facing multiple accusations related to an alleged property investment fraud scheme. “The claim that my kidnapping was fake or staged is slander. It is not true and was intentionally spread to destroy my name,” he stated.
He emphasized that investigators had already found substantial evidence supporting the kidnapping report. “If this were just a setup, how could the police locate the vehicle used by the suspects and gather testimony from key witnesses, including local security officers?” he said.
Sergei insisted that the incident was a real criminal act that should be taken seriously, particularly because it concerns Bali’s safety image as an international destination. He also described the physical characteristics of the alleged perpetrator, who reportedly abandoned him in a vacant area near The Apurva Kempinski in Nusa Dua, someone he said resembled an individual with the initial “A”.
The influencer also addressed rumors claiming he fled Indonesia to avoid police questioning in connection with dozens of reports of alleged property investment fraud amounting to around IDR 80 billion.
“The information that I fled is false. It was created to ruin my reputation,” he said.
Sergei acknowledged that he is currently outside Indonesia, but he asserted that his departure was due to concerns for his personal safety following threats he claims came from criminal groups, not to evade legal procedures. He added that all legal matters in Indonesia are being handled by his attorneys.
He also stated his willingness to appear before investigators if officially summoned. “The narratives about a fake kidnapping and me running away are intentionally crafted to bring me down. The goal is simple: to destroy my good name in the public eye,” he concluded.