Kiev handed over a protest note to New Delhi: Our citizens were detained illegally

Six Ukrainian citizens detained in India on terrorism charges should be released immediately. There is no evidence of their guilt. This was stated by the Ambassador of Ukraine in New Delhi, who handed the Indian side a note of protest, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported.

"Contrary to established international practice, the Embassy of Ukraine in India has not received an official notification from the competent authorities about the detention of our citizens. The Ukrainian side insists on the urgent provision of unhindered consular access to the detainees," the Foreign Ministry stressed. — The Ambassador of Ukraine to India held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, during which he handed over an official protest note demanding the immediate release of detainees and access to them."

Kiev noted that so far there are no proven facts confirming the involvement of the detainees in illegal activities on the territory of India or Myanmar. In addition, in India there is often no "proper marking of special territories, which creates a risk of unintentional violation of established rules."

As EADaily reported, the National Investigation Agency of India (NIA) detained six Ukrainians and one American on suspicion of preparing terrorist activities. All the suspects went to Mizoram State without a mandatory permit, crossed the border with Myanmar and established contacts with ethnic armed groups. The detainees are involved in the illegal delivery of large shipments of drones from Europe through India to Myanmar, which were intended for extremists.