BALI – A Russian national was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a guest house room and studio located on Jalan Merta Sedana, North Kuta, Bali, on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The incident has shocked both staff and local residents.
The deceased was identified as Artem Afonin, 25. He was found lying on the floor with his head wrapped in plastic and a leather belt tied around his neck. While foul play is suspected, police have not confirmed the exact cause of death and are still investigating.
Badung Police Public Relations Officer, Ipda Putu Sukarma, confirmed the discovery. According to him, North Kuta Police received the report on Tuesday at around 5:45 PM local time.
Based on the information provided by a guest house employee named Ahmad Sofyan, he first attempted to clean the victim’s room on Monday, April 28, around 3:00 PM. However, there was no response when he knocked on the door.
The next day, Tuesday around 4:00 PM, the employee returned to clean the room but again received no reply. Seeing the guest’s sandals still in front of the door, he grew suspicious and decided to record video footage through the window using his mobile phone.
“In the recording, the witness saw the guest lying motionless. He and nearby residents then attempted to open the door with a spare key, but were unsuccessful because the room was locked from the inside,” said Ipda Sukarma.
The door was eventually forced open, revealing the victim’s body lying on the floor. Police arrived at the scene shortly afterward and began their initial investigation. Preliminary findings noted bruising on the victim’s shoulders, abdomen, and arms. His head was covered with plastic, and a leather belt was tied around his neck. Blood was observed coming from the mouth and nose, and bodily fluids were also found.
“It is believed that the victim had been dead for over 12 hours,” Sukarma added.
Police also found various supplements and items in the room, including Omega 3 Fish Oil, Rhodiola 500 mg, Boron Bone Support, 5-HTP 50 mg, Creatine Matrix, Simply Vanilla protein powder, and several sexual paraphernalia.
“We are still investigating whether this is a case of homicide or if the victim was suffering from psychological distress. The body is currently undergoing autopsy at RSUP Prof. Ngoerah,” he concluded.