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Bakom Clarifies: Friday Night Gathering at Bogor Palace Was a Banquet…

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 17, 2026•3 min read

Indonesia's Communication Body (Bakom) head Syahganda Nainggolan clarified that the Friday (16/10/2026) night gathering of ministers and agency heads at the Bogor Palace was a banquet for Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation — not a cabinet meeting, and not a celebration of President Prabowo Subianto's 75th birthday.

Key Facts

The head of Indonesia's Communication Body (Bakom), Syahganda Nainggolan, clarified that the Friday (16/10/2026) evening gathering of ministers and agency heads at the Bogor Palace was a banquet for Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation.
Syahganda dismissed speculation that the event was a closed cabinet meeting or a celebration of President Prabowo Subianto's 75th birthday: "There was no birthday celebration last night. It was a banquet for the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation."
The banquet featured traditional dance performances and dinner, and served as an opportunity to introduce the entire Merah Putih Cabinet to the Russian delegation.
President Prabowo Subianto delivered a speech about the services Russia and the Soviet Union rendered to Indonesia in the past; Indonesia wants to make Russia a "true friend".
Officials began arriving at the Bogor Presidential Palace through Gate 3 at around 18:00 Western Indonesian Time. Those present included BRIN head Arif Satria, MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman, Women's Empowerment Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Hajj Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, and other deputy ministers.
Some media outlets earlier reported the meeting also touched on monitoring the Asta Cita priority programs and cabinet solidarity ahead of the second anniversary of the Prabowo-Gibran administration on 20 October 2026.

Not a Cabinet Meeting, Not a Birthday Party

A number of ministers, deputy ministers, and agency heads began arriving at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Friday (16/10/2026) evening. Official vehicles carrying the officials entered through Gate 3 at around 18:00 Western Indonesian Time. The arrivals sparked speculation: some outlets described it as a closed cabinet meeting, while others suggested a celebration of President Prabowo Subianto's 75th birthday, which falls on 17 October.

The speculation was answered officially on Saturday (17/10/2026). The head of Indonesia's Communication Body (Bakom), Syahganda Nainggolan, confirmed the event was a banquet for Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation. "There was no birthday celebration last night," Syahganda told reporters. "It was a banquet for the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation."

Syahganda added that the banquet featured regional dance performances and dinner, and served as an opportunity to introduce all members of the Merah Putih Cabinet to the Russian delegation.

Speech on Russia's and the Soviet Union's Services

During the event, President Prabowo Subianto delivered a speech on the services Russia and the Soviet Union rendered to Indonesia in the past. "The President's speech was about the services of Russia and the former Soviet Union to Indonesia, and Indonesia's desire to make Russia a true friend," Syahganda said.

Among the officials seen arriving at the Bogor Palace were National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) head Arif Satria, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Maman Abdurrahman, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Hajj Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, and several other deputy ministers.

Some media outlets earlier reported that the meeting also touched on monitoring the implementation of the Asta Cita priority programs and strengthening solidarity ahead of the second anniversary of the Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration on 20 October 2026. According to Bakom's official explanation, however, the night's agenda was a diplomatic banquet for the Russian delegation, not a private celebration of the President.