A Russian father and diet influencer Maxim Lyutyi has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the death of his one-month-old son, Kosmos.
After enduring a shocking and extreme dietary regimen, the infant died from pneumonia and emaciation while being taken to a doctor’s appointment in Sochi, Russia.
Lyutyi, who has a 60,000 following on Instagram, had been promoting an extreme lifestyle inspired by the legendary strength of Superman.
Under the delusion of wanting his son to be like the superhero, Lyutyi subjected one-month-old Kosmos to a strict vegan diet, named ‘prana’ which supposedly derived sustenance from spiritual energy-infused foods like berries.
The baby’s mother, Oksana Mironova, reportedly tried nourishing her infant son through breastfeeding, however, she was allegedly forbidden from doing so by Maxim Lyutyi, her partner.
Lyutyi persisted in his insensitive commitment to the ‘sunlight diet’, a practice similar to breatharianism, which claims one can survive solely on sunlight.
Reports surfaced of Lyutyi also subjecting Kosmos to exposure to cold water in a bid to toughen him up – indicating a disturbing pattern of neglect and pseudoscientific fervor.
The court proceedings revealed the extent of Lyutyi’s dangerous experiment, stating the consequences of extreme parenting practices driven by misguided beliefs.
The baby’s mother expressed deep regret for not intervening sooner under Maxim Lyutyi’s manipulative influence. She lamented that Oksana had essentially been treated like a test subject, taking an emotional toll on her daughter.
Initially, Lyutyi attempted to shift blame onto Mironova but eventually confessed to his role in his son’s demise. He pleaded for leniency in his sentencing, arguing negligence rather than malicious intent.
It’s noted that Lyutyi, now incarcerated, claims to have changed his ways, even reportedly abandoning his previous extreme dietary practices and consuming meat. Meanwhile, as the trial nears its conclusion, prosecutors are seeking an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Lyutyi, accompanied by a substantial fine of £900 (Rs 94,000) fine.
