Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: Ukraine has lodged a formal protest with India over the arrest of six of its citizens by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Ukraine’s envoy to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, met Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and submitted an official note seeking the immediate release of the detained nationals.

The six Ukrainians, along with an American citizen, were arrested during a coordinated NIA operation at airports in Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata on March 13.

Though the agency has not officially disclosed the reasons for the arrests, the individuals are suspected of illegally crossing into Myanmar from Mizoram to allegedly provide weapons training to militias.

However, Kyiv maintained that the Ukrainians were detained for unauthorised presence in Mizoram — a state that requires special permits for entry — and for illegal crossing of the India-Myanmar border. It added that there is no established evidence so far linking them to unlawful activities in India or Myanmar.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said investigations are ongoing and emphasised that no concrete proof has emerged against the detainees.

The six Ukrainians and the American national have been booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and were produced before a Delhi court, which remanded them to 11 days of NIA custody.

A spokesperson for the US Embassy acknowledged awareness of the case but declined to comment further. The Ukrainian Embassy also stated that its representatives attended a court hearing on March 16 but were not allowed direct communication with the detainees.