Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian woman, and her two young daughters, aged five and six, have returned to Russia after being rescued from a cave in Karnataka, India, in July. The family was discovered during a routine police patrol in the Gokarna forest, near the tourist hub of Goa. The rescue made international headlines due to the unusual circumstances of their living conditions. Kutina, who lacked valid documentation to remain in India, was detained along with her daughters at a foreigners’ detention center. Last week, the Karnataka High Court intervened, directing the federal government to issue travel documents for their repatriation. They departed for Russia on September 28, accompanied by Kutina’s minor son from a previous relationship, who was later found living in Goa. The court’s decision followed a custody petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli businessman based in Goa, who claimed paternity of the two girls. Goldstein argued against their deportation, citing India’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Goa Children Act, 2003. However, the court ruled in favor of Kutina, noting her expressed desire to return to Russia. The Russian embassy facilitated their travel, offering an emergency window between September 26 and October 9. Kutina had defended her unconventional lifestyle, stating that she and her children were content living in nature. However, authorities emphasized the dangers of their isolated living conditions, particularly during the monsoon season. The case has sparked debates over child welfare, parental rights, and the complexities of international custody disputes.