Maxim Lyutyi, 44, and his partner, Oxana Mironova, 34, failed to provide proper nutrition to their baby, Cosmos, who tragically died from “pneumonia and severe malnutrition” before reaching one month old.
The Russian father, currently serving time in a high-security penal colony, saw his sentence increased from eight to ten years. According to reports from the Mash news outlet, Lyutyi would take the baby away from his mother for entire days, subjecting him to cold water dousing as a “hardening” practice.
“The child’s fragile body couldn’t endure the abuse, leading to severe exhaustion and respiratory issues,” the court in Sochi heard. Despite the baby’s deteriorating condition, he was never taken to a doctor.
Lyutyi was found guilty of “intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm” by enforcing his belief that the baby could survive on sunlight alone, a practice associated with “prana-eating,” a diet that eschews food and water in favor of “feeding on the sun.”
In a recent court appearance, Lyutyi admitted his negligence after previously trying to shift the blame onto Mironova, who received a two-year non-custodial sentence of “correctional labor.” He initially claimed that her iron deficiency caused the baby’s death, as Cosmos weighed only three and a half pounds.
“I admit my guilt,” Lyutyi told the court. “If I had known my son was born prematurely and that his mother had health issues, I would have sought medical help immediately, regardless of her beliefs.”
In a recorded statement, he maintained, “Your Honour, this was purely a case of negligence, without intent. I loved my son and cared for him.”
Lyutyi was described as a “radical raw food fanatic,” accused of preventing Mironova from breastfeeding the baby. A source noted, “He wanted to conduct an experiment on his child, feeding him solely with sunlight, to promote this lifestyle to others.”
The court fined Lyutyi £860. Oxana’s mother, Galina, accused him of leading a “cult.” She said, “I warned my daughter that Maxim was dangerous, but she wouldn’t listen. She was like a guinea pig in his control, becoming distant from us. He treated her like a slave.”
Another relative of Mironova shared that Oxana was afraid of Lyutyi and had attempted to leave him multiple times, but he wouldn’t let her. “He wanted to raise a child who could survive on sunlight alone,” the relative said.
Oxana’s cousin, Olesya Nikolayeva, added, “Maxim forced her not to breastfeed the baby, believing sunlight was sufficient. In secret, Oxana tried to nurse her baby because she knew a newborn needs its mother’s milk.”
Lyutyi had also insisted on a home birth, refusing to allow Oxana to go to a maternity hospital.
