The lonely death of a jailed Russian pianist who opposed war

Pavel Kushnir, a gifted pianist from Russia, tragically passed away in jail while he was protesting against the war in Ukraine. His death occurred during a significant time when the United States and Russia were finalizing a major prisoner exchange, marking the largest since the Cold War. While this exchange was making headlines, Pavel was suffering in silence, having begun a hunger strike shortly after his arrest in May. He refused to eat and eventually stopped drinking water as well. He died on July 28, just four days before a group of more prominent dissidents were released in exchange for Kremlin spies and other criminals held in the West. His cremation was attended by only 11 people, highlighting the loneliness of his struggle. Svetlana Kaverzina, an independent politician from Siberia, expressed her sorrow that no one was aware of his situation and could not help him. She shared on the Telegram messaging app, 'We couldn’t chip in and send him a lawyer - we didn’t know. He was alone. ' Pavel was born in Tambov, Russia, where his father was a pianist and his mother a music teacher. He began playing the piano at the tender age of two and, by 17, he had already performed a remarkable concert featuring the works of composer Dmitri Shostakovich. After this, he was accepted into the prestigious Moscow Conservatory, where he developed a reputation for being a dissident. He often wore old clothes and was known for his rebellious spirit. In a 2005 interview, he famously stated that he would never perform the Russian national anthem. After graduating, he chose to work in smaller cities, believing that he would have more freedom away from the capital. He moved to various cities, including Yekaterinburg and Kursk, but lost his job at the philharmonic orchestra in Kurgan in 2022. After being unemployed for four months, he became a soloist with the Birobidzhan Philharmonic, expressing hope to stay there for many years if he could avoid being imprisoned or drafted into the army. In his free time, Pavel actively protested against the war. He would put up posters at night, denouncing the draft and calling out the actions of President Vladimir Putin. He also staged hunger strikes, first for 20 days in the spring of 2023 and then for three months later that year. His friend Olga Shkrygunova noted that he was aware of the risks he was taking. She described his actions as a solitary protest, saying, 'It was his solitary protest. An act by someone who didn't know what else he could do. ' She had tried to persuade him to leave Russia or at least perform in Berlin, but they were unable to arrange the trip. In late March, during their last conversation, he mentioned feeling like he was being watched and that he kept seeing the same person. He said, 'Whatever happens, happens: I'm doing this for a reason. ' Unfortunately, he was arrested, and his death was later revealed by human rights activists. Reports indicated that he was in very poor health before he died, described by someone who saw him as 'like a skeleton. ' The official cause of death was reported as heart problems. After his passing, his mother expressed her regret that he had chosen such a dangerous path, wishing he had stayed out of politics. However, his friend believed that he understood the risks and wanted to make a statement against the war. In death, Pavel gained more recognition than he had during his life. A book he wrote in 2014 was quickly republished in Germany, and many musicians paid tribute to him. Grace Chatto, a member of the electronic music group Clean Bandit, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, remembering her 'gentle and funny' friend. Additionally, 22 prominent classical musicians wrote an open letter to honor a 'remarkable artist' they had never met. Although his YouTube channel had only a few subscribers while he was alive, one of his videos has now been viewed over 22,000 times, showing the impact of his story.