A Russian woman found living in a snake-infested cave in India with her two daughters has claimed she ‘is not crazy’ – she just loves nature.
Nina Kutina, 40, was found on July 9, by policemen who were on a routine patrol in the Gokarna forest by the popular holiday hotspot of Goa.
After she was found alongside her two daughters – six and five years old – she defended her lifestyle and claimed her children were living a happy life in the cave.
But it is not known how the mum and her children came to live in the cave, how long they were living there and who they are.
Who is Nina Kutina?
Nina said she was born in Russia but hasn’t lived there for 15 years, according to ANI news agency.
Other than that, not many other details about what she does or her life have been revealed.
She said she has travelled to a lot of countries since leaving India including Ukraine, Costa Rica, Nepal, Malaysia, Bali and Thailand.
She had four children between the ages of 20 and 5 but said that her eldest son died in a crash in Goa last year.
Her other 11-year-old son lives in Russia, according to officials.
The father of the two daughters is Dror Goldstein who is an Israeli businessman.
He told NDTV Nina had left Goa with his daughters without telling him so he filed a missing complaint with police.
What has Nina Kutina said after leaving the cave?
The mother seemed annoyed she had been found in her big, beautiful cave, though she admitted she saw snakes regularly.
She told reporters after her hospital checkup: ‘I would not bring my daughters to die in the jungle. They were happy swimming in waterfalls and had lots of places to sleep and make clay artworks.
‘We were eating good, tasty food with gas.
‘I was never crazy, they have everything of the best. They weren’t dying from hunger. Everything is not true.
‘We love nature I try to use it. It gives air, water and movement. We do yoga wake up at sunrise and sleep at sundown.
‘Today they bring us to hospital but it is the first time I have ever been inside.’
Asked why she chose this cave to raise her daughters, she said: ‘Because we love nature. It’s not a cave far away so we can’t buy food. It’s a big beautiful cave with a window that looks to the ocean.
‘It’s not dangerous, we saw a few snakes yes. But everyone in Gorkana has them in their toilets. We just try to leave them alone.’
How long was she in the cave for?
It is a mystery as to how and when Nina and her two daughters ended up living in the cave.
She has been living on food like vegetables and noodles and told police they had all been living in the cave for a week.
Nina told police one of her daughters was born in a cave.
She claims to have lost her passport but police found an expired passport among her belongings.
This showed that she arrived in India on a business visa valid from October 18, 2016 to April 17, 2017.
She overstayed her visa, was caught a year later and given an exit permit to leave India.
It is thought she travelled to different countries after being kicked out. It is not clear when she returned to India.
She said her visa expired a few months ago and added: ‘We don’t have our visa, valid visa, our visa finished.’
Where is the Gokarna cave located?
The cave is located in the Gokarna forest, close by to the popular holiday hotspot of Goa.
It is nearby to the small temple town of Gokarna, which is one of seven important centres of pilgrimage for Hindus.
The area has lots of wildlife including snakes and is also prone to landslides, especially during the rainy season.
Police started patrols of the forest last year to ensure people’s safety.
What will happen to the family now?
Nina and her two daughters were taken to a hospital for a check-up after their rescue and they were deemed medically fit.
Authorities say they do not have valid documents to stay in India and they are currently being held at a detention centre for foreigners near Bengaluru.
India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office said it is trying to persuade the daughter’s dad to pay for Nina and her daughters’ repatriation after meeting with him in India.
He wants to prevent his daughters being sent back to Russia and wants joint custody of them.
It is expected that the family will be deported back to Russia soon.
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