A Scottsdale-based YouTuber is still in custody weeks after being arrested for setting foot on North Sentinel Island, a protected territory in the Indian Ocean that’s home to the isolated and hostile Sentinelese tribe.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested March 31, two days after he landed on the island, which is off-limits under Indian law. He is scheduled to appear in court in Port Blair, the capital of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on April 29.
According to police, Polyakov attempted to make peaceful contact by leaving a can of Diet Coke and a coconut as offerings for the Sentinelese people. He also filmed footage of the island, collected sand samples, and stayed on the beach for about an hour before returning to his boat.
A senior police official, who spoke anonymously, said, “It may be claimed to be an adventure trip, but the fact is that there has been a violation of Indian laws. Outsiders meeting Sentinelese could endanger the tribe’s survival.”
U.S. citizen could face five years in prison
Under Indian law, traveling within three miles of North Sentinel Island is prohibited. The islanders have had no known contact with the outside world and are known to violently repel outsiders. In 2018, American missionary John Allen Chau was killed after illegally landing on the island. Two fishermen were also killed in 2006 under similar circumstances.
Polyakov reportedly did extensive research on sea conditions, tides, and access routes before making his journey. Authorities say he blew a whistle in an effort to draw attention from the tribe but received no response. After returning to his boat, he was spotted by local fishermen who reported him to officials.
He is being held in Port Blair, roughly 750 miles east of mainland India. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine for violating protected area regulations.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi confirmed that a consular official has visited Polyakov in jail. “We take our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously and are monitoring the situation,” a statement read.
