Latest news with #Neo-Orientalist
Express Tribune
16-04-2025
- Express Tribune
American YouTuber Mykhailo Polyakov denied bail for illegal visit to Sentinelese island
American YouTuber Mykhailo Polyakov has been denied bail and faces up to five years in prison after attempting to make contact with the highly isolated Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island. The 24-year-old content creator, known online as Neo-Orientalist, has built a small following by posting videos of himself exploring high-risk locations, including Taliban-controlled regions in Afghanistan. In March 2025, Polyakov reportedly landed on the restricted island with offerings of Diet Coke and a coconut, hoping to interact with the uncontacted tribe, which has long resisted any outside interference. Despite his efforts — including blowing a whistle and waiting on the beach — no members of the tribe appeared, and he left the area shortly afterward. However, Indian authorities quickly apprehended him, citing violations of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation, 1956, which prohibits all unauthorized access to North Sentinel Island to preserve the tribe's way of life. A senior police official, Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, stated that Polyakov's actions posed 'a serious threat' to the safety of the Sentinelese, who have had virtually no contact with the outside world for over 60,000 years. Polyakov was officially charged with entering a prohibited tribal reserve and appeared in court on April 15, where his bail was denied. This case adds to a growing list of influencers facing legal consequences for reckless behavior abroad, following similar incidents involving content creators like Johnny Somali and Vitaly.
Express Tribune
07-04-2025
- Express Tribune
American YouTuber could face jail time for trying to contact world's most isolated tribe
Another U.S. social media influencer has stirred controversy abroad — this time by endangering the survival of one of the world's most isolated indigenous communities. In March, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old YouTuber who posts under the name Neo-Orientalist, illegally attempted to interact with the Sentinelese people, according to a statement from Survival International, an organization that defends the rights of indigenous and tribal communities. The Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinel Island, a densely forested, Manhattan-sized island in the Indian Ocean, and have fiercely resisted any contact with outsiders for generations. Polyakov reportedly approached the restricted island by boat, landed briefly, and spent around five minutes onshore. During his short but reckless stay, he left behind a coconut and a can of Diet Coke, blew a whistle in an attempt to get the tribe's attention, gathered sand samples, and filmed the entire encounter, according to Indian authorities. Fortunately, he did not come into direct contact with any members of the tribe. Indian officials swiftly arrested Polyakov, placing him on a three-day remand for further investigation, and he now faces potential jail time. Access to North Sentinel Island is strictly forbidden under Indian law, primarily to protect the Sentinelese from modern diseases to which they have no immunity. Survival International condemned Polyakov's actions as "reckless and idiotic," emphasizing that even brief contact could have catastrophic consequences for the tribe, potentially wiping out their entire population through the introduction of viruses like the flu. Historically, attempts to reach the Sentinelese have ended badly. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, efforts by outsiders to establish contact frequently resulted in violence — and sometimes death — prompting the Indian government to halt any further outreach. Past interactions, like a British-led expedition in the 19th century that kidnapped two elders and four children, had tragic outcomes: the elders died and the children, likely carriers of foreign diseases, were returned with gifts, potentially introducing illness to the isolated community. The dangers of such contact are well documented. Nearby indigenous groups like the Onge saw their population plummet by 85% following forced interaction with outsiders, while the Great Andamanese people experienced a devastating 99% decline. The tragic death of American missionary John Allen Chau in 2018, after he illegally attempted to evangelize the Sentinelese, serves as a grim reminder of the risks involved — not only to the outsiders but, more importantly, to the tribe itself. The Sentinelese live by hunting, gathering, and fishing, navigating the surrounding waters in small outrigger-like boats. They craft bows, arrows, and spears and reside in communal huts or smaller temporary shelters. Observations from afar, outside of archery range, have revealed a healthy presence of children and pregnant women, suggesting a stable population, estimated at around 150 individuals. However, very little is truly known about their culture, language, or even what they call themselves. Survival International stresses that the Sentinelese have made it abundantly clear: they want no contact with the outside world. Respecting their choice is crucial for their survival. As the organization states, "It is a wise choice."
Express Tribune
04-04-2025
- Express Tribune
YouTuber arrested after sneaking onto North Sentinel Island to offer Diet Coke to uncontacted tribe
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old YouTuber, was arrested by Indian authorities after illegally landing on North Sentinel Island, a protected territory inhabited by the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe. The incident occurred on March 29, 2025, and marks Polyakov's second attempt to reach the island, after a failed try in January. Polyakov, who runs a small YouTube channel called Neo-Orientalist with 867 subscribers, is known for visiting high-risk and restricted regions. He previously uploaded content from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This time, he attempted to reach the Sentinelese tribe, bringing with him a coconut and a can of Diet Coke as offerings. According to police reports, Polyakov blew a whistle offshore to attract attention, waded onto the island, and spent roughly five minutes on land. He left the items, collected sand samples, and filmed the encounter using a GoPro camera before returning to his boat. He was arrested on March 31 by Andaman and Nicobar Islands police. Regional police chief HGS Dhaliwal stated that Polyakov was presented before a local court and remains in three-day remand for interrogation. GoPro footage confirmed his illegal entry onto the restricted island. North Sentinel Island is heavily protected by the Indian government to preserve the isolated Sentinelese tribe, who are known for their hostility toward outsiders. Contact with the tribe is banned, and previous attempts, such as that of missionary John Allen Chau in 2018, have ended fatally. Polyakov's stunt joins a growing list of influencer controversies involving remote and indigenous communities.
