In Sochi, a high-stakes legal confrontation unfolded as prosecutors pressed for a sentence of eight and a half years in a maximum-security penal colony for Maxim Lyuty, a blogger who had drawn attention for promoting raw food ideas. The information was conveyed by RIA News, which documented the proceedings and the prosecutors’ position during a case that has drawn wide notice across the region for its disturbing implications and the questions it raises about child safety, parental responsibility, and the boundaries of unconventional dietary practices.
According to the agency’s report, the Lazarevsky District Court held a lengthy hearing on April 12 to review the charges against the accused blogger, who is alleged to have deliberately harmed the health of her child. Prosecutors sought a sentence of eight years and six months in a maximum-security colony and also requested a fine of 100,000 rubles for alleged violations related to failing to properly fulfill parental duties. The defense team and counsel appeared to present counterarguments and challenge certain elements of the charges. Public interest in the case centers on the child’s welfare, parental conduct, and the extent to which dietary practices intersect with guardianship duties and medical care.
The court record indicates that the infant son was born into a situation marked by medical neglect and limited engagement with formal pediatric care. The child reportedly did not receive regular medical examinations and was not registered with civil authorities, a step that can complicate the ability of state bodies to monitor health and intervene when necessary. Public health professionals noted that the child suffered from dystrophy and pneumonia, illnesses that require timely medical assessment and proper treatment. In early March, the child’s condition deteriorated, prompting hospitalization, yet medical outcomes remained unsuccessful, culminating in the infant’s death. The sequence of events drew scrutiny from observers who emphasized the vital role of early medical intervention and ongoing health surveillance for newborns and young children in ensuring their safety and well-being.
Investigators described a troubling dynamic within the household, where the father reportedly supported a diet aligned with raw-food principles and a practice known as prana-based nutrition, which emphasizes energy inputs derived from solar exposure and minimal, or in some cases, no intake of food and water. In this context, the suspect is said to have removed the infant from the mother’s care on multiple occasions between February and March 2023 and subjected the child to periods when feeding was intentionally withheld for up to 24 hours. The actions described form the core of the alleged intent to deprive the child of sustenance, a factor in the case that investigators and prosecutors argue demonstrates serious harm to the health of a defenseless minor and constitutes a grave breach of parental responsibility.
Earlier reports concerning Lyuty’s case note a disturbing pattern that has continued to attract public concern: before his detention and during pre-trial confinement, the individual at the center of these events reportedly consumed meat while in custody. The juxtaposition of competing dietary choices, personal beliefs, and the duty to provide appropriate care for a dependent child has become a focal point for discussions about the limits of personal autonomy in parenting and the obligations that accompany guardianship. The legal process moves forward with ongoing examinations of the evidence, witness testimony, and expert evaluations designed to determine whether the accused’s actions met the threshold of criminal conduct, and if so, what proportionate sentence would reflect the severity of the harm alleged while considering mitigating or aggravating factors presented during the trial.