American social media star Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested after allegedly leaving an isolated tribe a can of Diet Coke.
The 24-year-old went on an adventure to the North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean last month, to visit the Sentinelese people. According to police, they are an indigenous tribe who choose to live an isolated life.
They are well known by researchers for aggressively protecting their land and isolated way of life.
While traveling, Polyakov is accused of attempting to make contact with the tribe, while using a GPS device.
As reported by NBC News, he allegedly spent several hours surveying the land with binoculars before making his way ashore.
He spent around an hour attempting to get the tribes attention by blowing a whistle, but got no reaction.
He then attempted to gather his things but had the idea of leaving a piece of the outside world.
He choose to leave a coconut and a can of Diet Coke on the sand as an offering as well as filming content of the beach for his YouTube channel and taking sand and rocks.
Only days later, Polyakov was arrested for visiting the restricted land.
Local fisherman had reported him after they witnessed him heading in the direction of the North Sentinel Island.
The case claims he violated Indian laws that do not allow outsiders to interact with the tribe, as they are protected.
Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal – a Senior Police Officer – made a statement explaining: “He planned meticulously over several days to visit the island and make a contact with the Sentinel tribe.”
Another statement read that Polyakov ‘posed a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the Sentinelese people, whose contact with outsiders is strictly prohibited by the law to protect their indigenous way of life.’
Caroline Pearce – the director of Survival International, said: “This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk.
“The Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders incredibly clear over the years.”
The 24-year-old has been charged with entering a prohibited zone.
