Delhi Court Extends Detention of Ukrainians and American in Terrorism Case

Special Court in Delhi Oversees Case on Alleged Terrorist Training in Myanmar

According to Главком: A special court in Delhi has ordered a 30-day extension of pretrial detention for six Ukrainian nationals and one U.S. citizen, who are accused of plotting terrorist activities in Myanmar. The decision was handed down by Judge Prashant Sharma of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during a closed-door session held at the Patiala House court. The defendants appeared via video link from Tihar Jail.

Defendants and Case Details

The case involves seven accused individuals: U.S. citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, and six Ukrainians-Petro Hurba, Taras Slyvyak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksym Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi. They are charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, allegedly involving the supply of weapons, drones, and other equipment to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. Investigators are also probing the defendants' ties to insurgent groups in India.

• The prosecution requested continued detention, citing the need for further investigation.
• Key areas of this investigation include:
  • tracing the defendants' travel routes;
  • examining drone usage during training sessions;
  • and analyzing contacts with Indian rebels.

The accused entered India on tourist visas and traveled to the northeastern region, where they allegedly crossed into Myanmar without authorization.

Representatives from the Ukrainian and U.S. embassies were barred from attending the last two court hearings concerning pretrial detention. The court rejected their request to observe the closed proceedings. During one session, Judge Prashant Sharma reassured those present, stating:

“You need not worry... everything will proceed according to the law. You have consular access to meet with your citizens.”

This case has drawn significant attention in the context of international security and counterterrorism efforts, as it involves potential threats emerging in the South Asia region. The ongoing investigations could impact diplomatic relations between Ukraine, the United States, and India, as well as the situation in Myanmar, where conflicts persist between the state and ethnic armed groups. Monitoring the developments is crucial, as they may have far-reaching implications for regional stability.