Jail detention may endanger the life of the Russian dissident and spiritual teacher.
by Bitter Winter
To:
Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación Argentina
Ministerio de Seguridad de la Nación Argentina
Oficina del Presidente de la Nación Argentina
Your Excellencies,
The undersigned human rights organizations wish to renew the concerns we have previously expressed regarding the case of Konstantin Rudnev, a Russian spiritual teacher and dissident whose prosecution in Argentina continues to raise serious factual, procedural, and human rights issues. We understand that the Court of Cassation has revoked his house arrest and ordered his return to prison, pending a forensic medical examination intended to assess his current health condition.
We respectfully submit that this decision, if implemented without full consideration of Mr. Rudnev’s deteriorating physical state, may expose him to grave and potentially irreversible harm. His medical fragility is well documented. The prolonged periods of detention, the repeated interruptions of medical care, and the cumulative stress of the judicial process have left him in a condition that cannot safely withstand incarceration in a high‑security facility. A transfer under these circumstances could prove fatal.
While we reiterate our longstanding doubts regarding the evidentiary basis of the prosecution, our appeal today is strictly humanitarian. We urge the competent authorities to halt any transfer to a penitentiary environment that will endanger Rudnev’s life. Argentina has a proud tradition of respecting human dignity and the right to health; we ask that these principles guide the decisions taken in this case.
We also draw your attention to the recent psychological study published by scholar Raffaella Di Marzio, which examines the conduct of Prosecutor Fernando Arrigo, who is responsible for the Rudnev case (https://bitterwinter.org/when-prosecutorial-power-turns-into-obsession-the-cases-of-rudnev-and-jones-huala-a-psychological-view/). Her analysis identifies behavioral patterns consistent with an obsessive and disproportionate prosecutorial posture, raising legitimate concerns about the impartiality and proportionality of his actions. These concerns are not limited to Mr. Rudnev’s situation. Prosecutor Arrigo is currently facing significant criticism for his handling of the case of Mapuche leader Facundo Jones Huala, where similar issues of excessive rigidity, prolonged preventive detention, and disregard for humanitarian considerations have been reported.
The convergence of these patterns across unrelated cases suggests a structural problem that cannot be ignored. In light of this, we respectfully request that the authorities consider removing Prosecutor Arrigo from the Rudnev case to ensure that future decisions are made with the neutrality, balance, and respect for human rights that the Argentine justice system is committed to upholding.
Our organizations remain available for dialogue and cooperation. We trust that Argentina, a nation with a strong constitutional and international commitment to human rights, will take the necessary steps to protect the life and dignity of a vulnerable individual whose health is rapidly declining.
We thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Respectfully,
Signatures (as legal representatives of their organizations):
Alessandro Amicarelli, President, FOB – European Federation for Freedom of Belief
Francesco Curto, Co-founder, Fedinsieme [Faiths Together]
Raffaella Di Marzio, Managing Director, LIREC – Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion, Belief, and Conscience
Willy Fautré, Co-founder and Director, HRWF – Human Rights Without Frontiers
Massimo Introvigne, Co-founder and Managing Director, CESNUR – Center for Studies on New Religions
Camelia Marin, Deputy Director, Soteria International
Eva Miskelova, Executive Secretary, Central European Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Hans Noot, Director, Gerard Noodt Foundation for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Marco Respinti, Director-in-Charge, “Bitter Winter,” a daily magazine on freedom of religion and human rights
Rosita Šorytė, President, ORLIR – International Observatory of Religious Liberty of Refugees
Thierry Valle, President, CAP-LC – Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
René Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens
