US Citizen Detained
US Documentarian on Hunger Strike in India, Detained at Russia's Behest for Rebel Ties
Matthew VanDyke, an American documentary filmmaker and military advisor, has begun a hunger strike after more than 100 days in an Indian prison. He was detained in March at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, reportedly after Russia tipped off Indian authorities about his plans to train rebel fighters in Myanmar. El Periódico reports that VanDyke, founder of the non-profit Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), has been held at the Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata since his arrest.
VanDyke started a liquids-only hunger strike on June 22 to protest what he calls an illegal detention. His legal team says the arrest was orchestrated by Russian intelligence to stop him from helping rebels fight Myanmar's military junta — a junta that Russia backs with weapons and diplomatic cover.
Russia's Alleged Role in VanDyke's Arrest
According to Levante EMV, Russian intelligence services provided Indian authorities with a dossier on VanDyke before his arrival. Russia supports Myanmar's military government — known as the SAC — with arms and diplomatic protection. Russian state media outlets have labeled VanDyke a "mercenary provocateur" and called his hunger strike a "calculated PR move." Moscow views him as a threat to Russian-backed military hardware and influence in the region.
VanDyke has been a loud critic of Russian operations in both Ukraine and Myanmar. His organization, SOLI, claims to charge $0 for its services and operates entirely on donations. Russian officials reportedly see him as a "CIA-adjacent paramilitary contractor" whose training could give rebel groups an edge against Russian-made weapons and tactics.
India Caught Between Washington and Moscow
Indian authorities say VanDyke violated the Foreigners Act of 1946. They claim he entered the country with plans to cross into Myanmar and engage in armed conflict — a violation of his visa terms. A West Bengal court denied bail in May, citing national security concerns and "pressure from a third-party sovereign state." If convicted under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, VanDyke faces 4 to 12 years in prison.
India is in a difficult position. New Delhi values its ties with Moscow and worries about instability near its northeast border with Myanmar — states like Manipur and Mizoram. At the same time, the US is a key defense partner. La Provincia notes that the US State Department has increased pressure on New Delhi for a consular resolution as VanDyke's health declines.
Who Is VanDyke and What Was He Doing in Myanmar
VanDyke is no stranger to conflict zones. He spent nearly six months as a prisoner of war in Libya in 2011. After the Arab Spring, he shifted from filmmaking to what he calls "kinetic advocacy" — providing free military training to groups facing oppression. SOLI has previously trained the Nineveh Plains Forces in Iraq to fight ISIS and advised Syrian rebel groups.
In Myanmar, VanDyke was headed to work with the Arakan Army, a rebel group fighting the military junta. The junta now controls only about 25% of Myanmar's territory, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Arakan Army has been one of the most effective forces pushing back against the junta in the Rakhine and Chin states.
Hunger Strike Raises Stakes for All Sides
VanDyke has been on a liquids-only hunger strike since June 22, according to El Día. His health is declining. Legal experts warn that India's Foreigners Act can trap political detainees in indefinite custody when national security is invoked — with no clear path to trial. Human rights lawyers note this is exactly the situation VanDyke now faces.
If VanDyke's condition becomes critical, Indian authorities may be forced to move him to a hospital under guard. That move could open a door to a "humanitarian release" — the only way India could avoid the diplomatic fallout of an American citizen dying in custody. For now, all sides are watching and waiting as VanDyke's hunger strike enters its second week.
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