Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old YouTube influencer from Arizona, has been arrested by Indian authorities for visiting North Sentinel Island, a restricted area in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Polyakov, known as Neo-Orientalist on YouTube, reportedly attempted to make illegal contact with the indigenous Sentinelese people by offering a coconut and a can of Diet Coke. According to Fox News, this was his third attempt to reach the island.
The Sentinelese are known for their voluntary isolation, and any contact with them is strictly prohibited to protect their way of life. Polyakov allegedly stayed on the island for about five minutes, recording video footage with a GoPro camera, before leaving without making contact with the tribe. He remained offshore in a boat for about an hour until local fishermen alerted authorities.
The incident has drawn criticism from Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, who called Polyakov’s actions “deeply disturbing.” She referenced the 2018 incident when American missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese after attempting to contact them. Pearce emphasized the need to protect uncontacted indigenous peoples from external threats.
Polyakov is currently in judicial custody and has a court hearing scheduled for April 17. Indian police are investigating his intentions and other places he may have visited during his stay in the region.
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