A Russian woman and her two young daughters were discovered living in a cave in the forests of southern India, years after their travel documents expired. Local authorities found Nina Kutina, aged 40, along with her daughters, aged six and four, during a routine patrol at Ramatirtha Hill in Karnataka on July 9, 2023. Reports indicate that Kutina’s visa expired eight years ago, raising questions about their prolonged stay in the country.
During an interview with the ANI news agency, Kutina defended their unconventional lifestyle. She described a fulfilling life spent swimming in waterfalls, painting, and practicing pottery. “We have big experience to stay in nature, in jungle. We were not dying. I did not bring my daughters to die in jungle,” she stated in English, while sitting beside her daughters in a vehicle. “They did not feel bad. They were very happy.”
Authorities revealed that Kutina initially arrived in Goa on a business visa that expired in April 2017. She briefly left India for Nepal in September 2018 before returning. Local police superintendent M Narayana noted that Kutina was “reluctant to provide proper details regarding her and her children’s passport and visa.” The police are still unclear about whether the children were born in India or Russia, although Kutina mentioned a son who died in Goa.
Despite her apparent affection for the natural surroundings, Narayana emphasized the risks associated with living in a cave. “Going into caves is a dangerous thing, and with two children, and to live there for a week or more is astonishing,” he remarked. The authorities are concerned about the security implications of her long-term presence in India without the knowledge of officials.
Currently, steps are being taken to repatriate Kutina and her daughters to Russia, as they do not possess valid passports. They have been relocated to a nearby detention facility designed for foreigners residing illegally in India. Authorities have reached out to the Russian Embassy in an effort to facilitate their return.
As the situation unfolds, it highlights not only the challenges faced by individuals living outside the law but also the complexities surrounding immigration and the enforcement of travel regulations in a global context.
