YouTuber arrested for illegal entry onto North Sentinel Island

In March of last year, 25-year-old YouTuber Mikhailo Viktorovich Polyakov was arrested by Indian authorities for illegally entering North Sentinel Island. Located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this territory is strictly protected to prevent contact with its isolated indigenous population. During his approximately one-hour visit, Polyakov attempted to contact the tribe by whistling and left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut as gifts. The YouTuber, who had reportedly attempted to reach the island twice before, claimed in a video titled 'The Last Island Part 2' that he only intended to say hello. He stated that he was vaccinated against influenza and measles and believed he posed no health risk, despite warnings from experts that the tribe lacks immunity to common diseases. Indigenous rights organizations strongly condemned the act as reckless and dangerous to the tribe's survival. While Polyakov acknowledged the travel ban, he has maintained that he does not regret his actions. He argued that simply looking at the tribe from a distance would not spread illness.