JAKARTA, June 10 (RIA Novosti, Mikhail Tsyganov) - Four Russian helicopter pilots have been deported from the Indonesian province of Papua over alleged visa violations, the Antara national news agency said Saturday.

According to a spokesman for the local immigration service, Russian nationals Alexander Sukonin, Vitaly Dudnik, Yury Ashikhmin and Oleg Tretyakov entered Indonesia April 28 on tourist visas valid until June 1.

"They had a contract with PT Trigana Air Service, a private Indonesian airline, to work as cockpit and technical personnel," the spokesman said. He added that the pilots were now on their way to Jakarta accompanied by guards, and would be later sent to Russia.

The consular department of the Russian Embassy in Indonesia is investigating the incident.