New developments in the case of the Russian dissident and spiritual teacher in Argentina explain the need for an urgent appeal.
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 NGOs sent you an open letter about the case of Russian political and spiritual dissident Konstantin Rudnev, published on June 20, 2026. Today, we release this new statement after more than a month of developments that worsen the concerns raised earlier. The Court of Cassation’s decision to revoke house arrest and order Rudnev’s return to prison, pending a medical exam, was already troubling. The situation has now escalated to a level that requires urgent attention.
First, Rudnev’s health has worsened, and he has had a second surgery. His condition remains fragile, and the risk of incarceration poses an even greater threat to his survival. Medical professionals familiar with his case believe that returning him to prison is incompatible with the care he needs.
Second, independent scholars and international observers have continued examining the case. A commission of ten experts has produced a study published in “Bitter Winter” and scheduled for detailed publication in a special issue of “The Journal of CESNUR.” Their work documents the inconsistencies in the accusations made in Russia, Montenegro, and Argentina, and highlights the peaceful nature of Rudnev’s teachings and past activities. The commission also reviews the allegations used in Argentina to justify the revocation of house arrest. The available evidence shows accusations of drug trafficking without the discovery of any drugs, with forensic reports confirming that the seized materials do not include prohibited substances, and claims of human trafficking without identified victims or witnesses, with the main “victim” denying she is a victim. The case files and prosecutorial submissions lack verified facts supporting these claims.
Third, the defense has tried to challenge the Cassation Court’s decision to revoke house arrest, but its appeals have been rejected without substantial review. The “impugnación horizontal” filed against the June 4, 2026 decision was declared inadmissible. The subsequent “recurso extraordinario federal,” which is the mechanism meant to allow a case to reach the Supreme Court, was also dismissed. This pattern gives the impression of a judicial system where higher courts avoid reviewing lower court decisions, leaving the defense without an effective way to appeal.
The NGOs that signed the June 20 appeal thus reaffirm the requests outlined in that document. The decision to revoke house arrest and send Rudnev to prison should not be enforced. The reasons are both substantial and humanitarian, and the events of the past month highlight the urgency of this stance.
June 30, 2026
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
