A written statement submitted to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council has brought renewed international attention to the case of Konstantin Rudnev, who remains in pretrial detention in Argentina. The document, filed by the NGO CAP Liberté de Conscience, argues that the proceedings raise serious due process concerns and reflect a wider pattern in which claims targeting spiritual minorities can be accepted without sufficient scrutiny.
Read the official UN document here: https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g26/028/27/pdf/g2602827.pdf
According to the statement, the case began after hospital staff allegedly misinterpreted the situation of a Russian woman who relied on friends for translation and assistance. The NGO says this was treated as a sign of coercion and triggered an investigation into an alleged trafficking scheme. Investigators later connected the situation to Rudnev after a copy of his passport was found among the woman’s documents. The woman, the statement notes, has repeatedly said she never met Rudnev and was not part of any group linked to him.
Detention Conditions, Health Concerns, and Due Process
The submission claims that despite the lack of direct evidence tying Rudnev to criminal conduct in Argentina, the investigation expanded and additional Russian women were detained, including at Bariloche airport, even though many reportedly had no connection to one another. The NGO also argues that media narratives describing a “Russian cult” recycled allegations originating outside Argentina.
The statement raises concerns about detention conditions and medical care. It alleges Rudnev was arrested without a warrant, initially denied an interpreter, and placed in solitary confinement soon after detention. The document also claims his health has deteriorated significantly in custody, including major weight loss and difficulties accessing appropriate medical care and food suited to his condition.
Konstantin before March 2025 and after 8 months in prison
CAP Liberté de Conscience says prosecutors have acknowledged an absence of concrete evidence but requested extended pretrial detention while examining seized digital devices. The NGO urges Argentine authorities to release Rudnev on humanitarian and legal grounds, warning that continued detention could pose serious risks to his health. The statement also frames the case as a test of protections for liberty, due process, and freedom of religion or belief.
