PAGAN parents who let their baby son starve to death for religious reasons have been sentenced to ten and 13 years in prison.
Andrey Vlasov, 34, and his wife Irina Vlasova, 36, were charged with murder after their eight-month-old son died of malnutrition in the city of Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblast region.
According to reports, on April 7, 2017 Irina Vlasova, 36, gave birth to a healthy boy who weighed 9.2lbs.
She and her husband Andrey Vlasov, 34, gave their child the name Yeramir, which is an old Slavic name, and put the newborn on a strict diet, accordingly with their religious beliefs.
The mother fed little Yeramir once a day and did not feed him at all for several days as punishment for “misbehaving”.
Due to the diet, little Yeramir started to lose weight and his health condition gradually worsened.
The parents saw that the boy’s health was in danger but did not change his diet nor take him to the doctor.
The father called an ambulance only when Yeramir lost consciousness after three months of the strict diet.
The boy was rushed to hospital in a coma and diagnosed with severe malnutrition.
SEVERE MALNUTRITION
The child weighed less than 4.4lbs when he was hospitalised and was in critical condition, local media report.
For the next five months Yeramir fought for his life as doctors did their best to help.
Unfortunately, despite all the efforts, the boy died without coming out of his coma.
After Yeramir’s death, the police opened a criminal case on murder against the parents.
Russian police spokeswoman Yulia Sklyarova said: “The baby died in December 2017 despite all the efforts to save his life.
“A forensic medical examination showed that the boy’s death was caused by malnutrition. The malnutrition was caused by long periods between feeding.”
Prosecutor's office spokeswoman Nadezhda Limonova said: “The parents saw that the child’s health condition was deteriorating. Despite that, they did not take him to a doctor and deprived him of timely medical care.”
The police raided Vlasovs’ apartment and found the literature of ‘Zvenyaschie Kedry’ (Jingling Cedars), a religious movement influenced by old local Pagan beliefs.
The movement followers are known for their strict parenting that includes severe dietary restrictions and refusal of medical care.
They also do not give any food to their children for several days as punishment for misbehaving.
Expert Aleksandr Neveev said: “The followers of the religious movement refuse medical help and prefer folk medicine.
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“They do not take their children to the doctor and treat them at home using plant-derived remedies. They also do not send their children to school.”
Andrey Vlasov and Irina Vlasova were charged with murder. The mother was sentenced to 13 years in prison and the father got 10 years.
During the court hearing, the parents pleaded not guilty claiming that their son died of a disease.
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