<p>New Delhi: Kyiv has lodged a protest with New Delhi over the arrest of six Ukrainian citizens by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).</p><p>Oleksandr Polishchuk, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ukraine">Ukraine</a>’s envoy to New Delhi, met Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and handed over an official note of protest seeking the immediate release of the six Ukrainians.</p><p>The six Ukrainians, along with an American citizen, were arrested in a coordinated NIA operation at airports in Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata on March 13.</p><p><strong>‘Training militias’</strong></p><p>Though the agency has not officially disclosed the reasons for the arrests, the seven foreigners are accused of illegally crossing into Myanmar from Mizoram to provide weapons training to militias in the Southeast Asian country.</p><p>Kyiv, however, said in a statement that the Ukrainian citizens were detained in India for unauthorised presence in Mizoram, the northeastern state that requires a special permit for entry, and for illegal crossing of the state border between India and Myanmar.</p>.India remains world’s second biggest arms importer after Ukraine: SIPRI report.<p>“At present, the competent authorities of India are conducting the relevant investigative actions. As of now, there are no established facts proving the involvement of the said Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar,” said the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.</p><p>The American and the six Ukrainians have been booked under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They were produced before a Delhi court on Monday and remanded to 11 days of NIA custody.</p><p>A spokesperson for the US Embassy said the mission was aware of the case but declined further comment.</p><p>“On March 16, a court hearing took place, which was also attended by representatives of the embassy; however, they were not granted the opportunity to communicate directly with the detainees,” the Ukrainian Embassy said.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Kyiv has lodged a protest with New Delhi over the arrest of six Ukrainian citizens by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).</p><p>Oleksandr Polishchuk, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ukraine">Ukraine</a>’s envoy to New Delhi, met Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and handed over an official note of protest seeking the immediate release of the six Ukrainians.</p><p>The six Ukrainians, along with an American citizen, were arrested in a coordinated NIA operation at airports in Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata on March 13.</p><p><strong>‘Training militias’</strong></p><p>Though the agency has not officially disclosed the reasons for the arrests, the seven foreigners are accused of illegally crossing into Myanmar from Mizoram to provide weapons training to militias in the Southeast Asian country.</p><p>Kyiv, however, said in a statement that the Ukrainian citizens were detained in India for unauthorised presence in Mizoram, the northeastern state that requires a special permit for entry, and for illegal crossing of the state border between India and Myanmar.</p>.India remains world’s second biggest arms importer after Ukraine: SIPRI report.<p>“At present, the competent authorities of India are conducting the relevant investigative actions. As of now, there are no established facts proving the involvement of the said Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar,” said the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.</p><p>The American and the six Ukrainians have been booked under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They were produced before a Delhi court on Monday and remanded to 11 days of NIA custody.</p><p>A spokesperson for the US Embassy said the mission was aware of the case but declined further comment.</p><p>“On March 16, a court hearing took place, which was also attended by representatives of the embassy; however, they were not granted the opportunity to communicate directly with the detainees,” the Ukrainian Embassy said.</p>
