Pianist dies after hunger strike protesting war in Ukraine
In a Russian prison, Paweł Kusznir, a pianist known for his anti-war activities, has died. The 39-year-old passed away after a hunger strike he initiated in protest against the war in Ukraine.
12:53 PM EDT, August 3, 2024
Kusznir died on July 27. The authorities of the prison in Birobidzhan, in Russia's Far East, did not report his death. Journalists from the Wot Tak project of Belsat TV uncovered this information.
The oppositionists undertook a dry hunger strike, the most extreme form of hunger protest, abstaining from solid foods and liquids.
His death was confirmed by Olga Romanova, head of the Sitting Russia project, an organization defending the rights of political prisoners.
Musician has died from starvation
The musician was arrested at the end of May on charges of inciting terrorism. The investigation was launched in connection with recordings published on his YouTube channel. At that time, Kusznir had only five subscribers.
In these recordings, he spoke out against the war and Kremlin politics in a poetic form. The artist also published a book on anti-war topics.
