Maldivian student held in Uzbekistan after taking a drone
'Not in custody. They told me to stay wherever I wanted until the investigation was completed,” he said.
By
Aishath Maha
A Maldivian student who went to Uzbekistan on a learning expedition has been 'stuck' in the country after his passport was confiscated for carrying a drone.
The Clique College student was arrested at Samarkand International Airport in Uzbekistan on 30th last month.
Drones are prohibited for public use in Uzbekistan. Import of drones is also prohibited.
The student who went to Uzbekistan on the learning expedition organised by Clique College on April 23 told Atoll Times that he was unaware that drones were banned in the country.
"After Abu Dhabi we went to Uzbekistan, I didn't know that drones were prohibited there. I was assigned to take photos of the whole trip, that’s why I took it," he said.
"But before we loaded it, we asked our guide and he said the drone is forbidden. So it was kept in the box”.
He said he was arrested at the airport on his way to Male after completing his trip from April 23 to 30.
'The airport security there is very strict. They noticed the drone when they scanned baggage to enter the departure hall. Then they stopped us and asked questions. I told them I didn't use the drone in Uzbekistan. They checked the memory card and everything,” the student said on condition of anonymity.
He said he was banned from leaving and his passport was seized, on the grounds that they were waiting for 'experts to look at the drone' to investigate the case.
"Not in custody. They told me to stay wherever I wanted until the investigation was completed,” he said.
The student said Clique College has also lodged a complaint with the Higher Education, Education Ministry and Foreign Ministry. However, there has not been much gained from it, he said.
'The college is working hard,' he said.
The statement given in the investigation was also sent to Maldives but he has not heard back from the officials because, according to the student, there has been a 'very serious miscommunication'.
"There has been no news for 10 days. They haven't even looked at what happened to my passport," he said.
The Foreign Ministry said it had received information that the authorities in Uzbekistan were investigating the case of a Maldivian who was using a drone in the country. The ministry is looking into the matter in collaboration with the Uzbekistan mission, they said.
