Ukrainian Citizen Detained for the Murder of a Russian Woman in Peru
A Ukrainian citizen has been arrested in Peru for the murder of a Russian woman at a spiritual healing center
Yurimaguas, Peru - A Ukrainian citizen was arrested last week in the city of Yurimaguas, Peru, on charges of murdering a Russian woman. The incident occurred at the Dos Mundos personal development center, a facility known for offering spiritual healing experiences.
Ivan Kuzmin, a 38-year-old Capoeira instructor from Ukraine, and Liudmila Lazarenko, a 44-year-old Russian woman interested in learning about traditional medicines, had traveled together through the Loreto region before returning to the development center.
The two met a year ago, united by a shared interest in ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink used in traditional healing rituals. However, according to the center's owner, Pepe Ordóñez, neither Kuzmin nor Lazarenko were participating in the center's treatments at the time of the incident.
The attack occurred after workers at the center heard screams coming from the room occupied by Kuzmin and Lazarenko. Unable to access the room, staff alerted police.
When authorities arrived, they found Kuzmin with a knife in his hand and Lazarenko's body severely injured, with signs of having been beaten. Drugs were found at the scene, suggesting that Kuzmin may have been under the influence of illicit substances.
Prosecutor Llesenia del Mar reported that, according to preliminary reports, an argument triggered the attack. Police are investigating whether the use of ayahuasca, San Pedro and hallucinogenic mushrooms may have influenced Kuzmin's behavior.
Liudmila Lazarenko, who lived in Thailand with her husband and daughters, was a frequent visitor to Peru, drawn by her search for spiritual experiences. Her family is working with Peruvian authorities to repatriate her body.
The Judiciary of Peru has requested nine months of pre-trial detention for Kuzmin while investigations are underway. The pre-trial detention hearing, initially scheduled for Sunday, was postponed to Monday, August 12, due to Kuzmin experiencing an episode of decompensation and being transferred to a hospital.