The parents of a newborn child who died of "prolonged starvation" have been detained in Russia amid claims they are believers in "feeding on sunlight."
Mother Oxana Mironova, 33, is under investigation for causing death by negligence and was put under house arrest for two months by a judge.
Her partner Maxim Lyutyi, 43, is known as a “radical raw foodist” who like his wife also believes in “feeding on sunlight”, reported Zvezda News.
Lyutyi was separately detained for resisting police.
“The preliminary version of the infant's death is severe exhaustion…that the blogger tried to instil his nutrition system in the baby,” said the outlet.
The boy died around one month old and he is suspected of suffering from pneumonia and emaciation after starvation.
The Russian Investigative Committee is examining the circumstances of the child’s tragic death near the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, and a criminal case has been launched.
The child was reportedly born at home and was not seen by doctors.
Lyutyi is known as “a propagandist of raw food” and a lifestyle trainer said Mash media.
He is the author of methods of "cleansing the body”.
“He is also an adherent of prana eating — feeding with the energy of the sun, without food or even water.”
He and his partner founded a club called ‘The Living Man’ intended to help Russians “improve their health and sort out personal problems”.
He is described as a “master of working with the body and consciousness” and offered “healing” to his clients.
Caution News citing law enforcement said that the couple “tried to transfer the baby to prana-eating — a diet in which people go without food and water for a long time and ‘feed on the sun’.”
His social media posts are filled with bizarre notions including accusing Greta Thunberg of being an “actress” and claiming 3D printers were part of life in the 19th century.
Nine weeks ago he posted a video of him driving at 224 kph [139 mph], well above the Russian speed limit.
