Kushnir was arrested in May over anti-Putin videos posted on YouTube and charged with inciting terrorist activities. While awaiting trial in Birobidzhan, where he was detained, Kushnir went on a hunger strike and died of exhaustion in late July.
Born into a family of musicians and educated at the Moscow Conservatory, Kushnir actively opposed the policies of the Russian regime, especially after the start of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He publicly condemned the actions of the Russian authorities and the fascist tendencies that, in his opinion, were manifested in the country. In his videos he called on Russians to resist and urged them not to put up with what was happening in the country. His appeal to the public: “Don’t get used to fascism, don’t get used to war,” sounded like a manifesto against totalitarianism.
Kushnir’s protest against the war in Ukraine led to his dismissal from the Birobidzhan Philharmonic, where he worked, from participating in concerts in support of the authorities. In January 2023, his activities attracted the attention of law enforcement and he was soon arrested.
According to friends and colleagues, Kushnir often went on hunger strikes to protest the Kremlin’s policies. The last time he refused even water, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Russian human rights activists said his death symbolizes the plight of many political prisoners who remain in Russian jails.
After his death, former colleagues and friends, including pianist Maria Nemtsova, began collecting his writings and letters to preserve his message. In an interview, Nemtsova noted that Kushnir’s death was almost a “biblical story”: she tried to convey his thoughts to the people, despite pressures and threats.
