Jewish Russian pianist Pavel Kushnir has tragically died in jail while awaiting trial for his criticism of Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine, according to reports released on Tuesday.
The talented pianist, 39, had been detained in Birobidzhan, a remote city in far-eastern Russia near the Chinese border, since his arrest in May. His arrest followed his anti-Kremlin remarks posted on his YouTube channel.
Reports indicate that Kushnir died after enduring a five-day hunger strike in prison. His mother, Irina Levina, confirmed his death to a Russian news outlet.
A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Kushnir had performed as a soloist at philharmonics in Kursk and Kurgan before joining Birobidzhan’s philharmonic orchestra last year.
His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the Russian Jewish community. "He might have been saved during the recent prisoner swap with the U.S.," lamented a Jewish activist.
Russian authorities have yet to comment on Kushnir’s death.
* Ynet contributed to this article.