Maldives also denied India's claim that it held

discussions with Indian officials regarding Nasheed. "Maldives wishes to confirm that neither the High Commission of India in Male, nor any other authority of the Government of India has had had discussion with the Government of Maldives concerning former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed's reported request for 'refuge'," the statement said. It also emphasised that Nasheed's on-going trial is a matter handled by two independent State institutions, namely the Prosecutor General and the judiciary. "Like any other democratic country, the executive branch of the Government of Maldives cannot, under the Constitution of the Maldives, interfere with the independence of the judiciary, and will indeed ensure that the independence of the judiciary is always upheld," it said.