Police in Karnataka, India, are unraveling the unusual story of Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian woman and her two young daughters who were located living in a cave near Gokarna forest on July 9. Officers, on routine patrol, stumbled upon the cave when they noticed colorful clothes hanging outside. Kutina and her daughters, aged six and five, lacked valid visas and are currently in a foreigner detention center in Bengaluru, awaiting deportation.
Defending her choice to live in the cave, Kutina stated in interviews that she and her daughters thrived in nature, emphasizing its health benefits despite the cave being habitat to wild animals and snakes. Authorities, however, voiced concerns regarding safety and the unsanitary conditions. A police superintendent recounted how the rescue revealed a poorly furnished cave with minimal possessions, yet the children appeared cheerful in the footage.
Nina, who claims to have spent the last 15 years away from Russia, has been traveling across multiple countries, including Costa Rica and Malaysia. The Indian Foreigners Regional Registration Office categorizes her as Russian, initiating communication with the Russian consulate for repatriation. The recent discovery of her daughters' father, Israeli businessman Dror Goldstein, adds further intrigue. He noted that Kutina had left Goa without his knowledge, and he lodged a missing complaint, seeking joint custody while opposing their return to Russia.
Details about their life in the cave remain ambiguous; while police reported Kutina had been living there for merely a week, she mentioned previous cave dwellings in Goa where her younger daughter was allegedly born. After evaluating their health post-rescue, authorities confirmed they were fit and safe. While expressing dissatisfaction with the detention center, Kutina maintained that her past life in the cave was fulfilling for her family.
Keen to clarify her motivations, Kutina refuted associations of her cave lifestyle with spiritual practice, attributing it instead to a love of nature and a desire for a different life. Despite her claim that her daughters enjoyed swimming and good food in the cave, concerns remain about their future and the implications of their extraordinary lifestyle choices within the complex asylum and immigration framework in India.
