BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — The Denpasar Class I Immigration Office is tracking down three foreign nationals (WNA) who went viral on social media after a video allegedly showing them being expelled from a gym in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, circulated widely online.

The incident drew public attention after footage showed the gym owner arguing with one of the foreign nationals before asking all three to leave the premises.

Head of Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement at the Denpasar Class I Immigration Office, Ida Bagus Made Suandita, said immigration officers had conducted an inspection at the gym on Wednesday (August 20, 2026).

Based on the preliminary findings, the dispute reportedly began over the alleged conduct and attitude of one of the foreign nationals toward a gym employee.

“What is clear from our inspection is that the person concerned is a Bulgarian citizen and was born there,” Suandita said when contacted on Thursday (August 20).

Suandita explained that although the three men had been widely described on social media as Israeli nationals, immigration records indicated that they entered Indonesia using Bulgarian passports.

He stressed that a person’s place of birth does not necessarily determine the nationality they use when entering another country. In some countries, individuals may also legally hold more than one citizenship, depending on the applicable laws.

Following the spread of conflicting information about the men’s nationality on social media, the Denpasar Immigration Office began verifying their identities and attempting to locate them for clarification.

Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was not solely related to nationality. The dispute reportedly began when one of the foreign nationals became involved in an argument with a gym employee.

A video circulating online shows the gym owner asking the three foreign men to leave. The footage also includes references to Israel and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Samir, 32, the owner of Ayenda gym, later issued a clarification through social media. According to his account, the incident began when the three men arrived at the gym and one of them allegedly behaved rudely toward a staff member.

The alleged behavior led to an argument, after which the gym management asked the three men to leave.

Samir also said he had asked about their nationality. In his social media clarification, he claimed that the three men identified themselves as Israeli nationals.

However, the preliminary verification by Denpasar Immigration found that the three men had entered Indonesia using Bulgarian passports, although they were reportedly born in Israel.

The incident gained further attention after the video was widely shared on social media. Online discussions subsequently expanded beyond the gym dispute to questions about the men’s nationality, alleged links to the IDF, and accusations of discriminatory treatment.

Samir denied allegations that the men were expelled because of their religion. He maintained that the dispute stemmed from the alleged behavior of one of the foreign nationals toward gym staff, as well as statements concerning Israel and the IDF.

He also said his gym received a number of one-star reviews on Google following the incident.

Meanwhile, the Denpasar Immigration Office is continuing to investigate the case to verify the identities, citizenship status and immigration status of the three foreign nationals.

The reference to the three men as “Israeli nationals” on social media should therefore be distinguished from the citizenship documented on the passports they used to enter Indonesia. Based on the preliminary findings of Denpasar Immigration, the three men entered Indonesia using Bulgarian passports, although they were reportedly born in Israel.