In Moscow, Pavel Usanov, the 40-year-old bass guitarist of the Lyube group, died without emerging from a two-week coma. Usanov was severely beaten on the night of April 2 after a quarrel in a bar near Moscow. The investigation claims that the cause of the fight was “personal hostility” between Usanov and his alleged offender. Friends of the murdered musician talk about political position Paul, which could lead to tragedy. Ruposters has collected all versions of the tragedy and memories of the musician “Lube”.
Fight and hospital
It all started in a bar near Moscow in the Dmitrovsky district, where the musician celebrated the birthday of his son good friend. “MK,” citing an anonymous source, writes that Pavel quarreled with two men, possibly from Ukraine, over the situation in the South-East of the country. The first clash happened in a bar, but it ended quickly, journalists say.
The video, which Life published on April 22, shows that the situation was quite peaceful until Usanov and one of his offenders began to take turns “as a joke” to practice hand-to-hand combat techniques on each other. It is obvious that everyone in the bar was in varying degrees of intoxication. Their fight stopped for a few seconds, the men bickered for a while. Then (perhaps there was a splice or delay in the recording at this point) an unknown man with short hair in dark clothes, he picks up Usanov and abruptly throws him to the floor.
MK claims that the clash continued near Usanov’s house. The three attackers hit him from behind and beat him until they were driven off by security guards at the apartment complex. Although it is likely that serious injury The musician received his head after falling in a bar. At the same time, Usanov cannot be called an unsportsmanlike person. The musician regularly supported physical fitness, doing hand-to-hand combat and going to the gym.
After the attack, Pavel asked his family not to be scared and refused to go to the hospital, claiming that he would recover on his own. The very next day, Usanov was forced to see doctors - his condition worsened sharply. After examination, Usanov was urgently sent to Sklif for surgery, after which the musician fell into a coma, from which the doctors were unable to get him out.
The next day, police detained one of the suspects in the attack. He turned out to be a 39-year-old resident of the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region, Maxim Dobry, who works as a transportation manager. In the Life video, it is difficult to determine how old Usanov’s offender is. Initially, the suspect faced eight years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm, but now the charge has been reclassified as “grievous bodily harm resulting in the death of the victim through negligence.”
For Donbass
Even before the start of the Ukrainian events, Usanov took a pronounced patriotic position. In particular, he, together with Evgeny Fedorov and Nikolai Starikov, took part in the all-Russian action “Media - stop lying,” which was carried out by the National Liberation Movement in 2013. During the rally, Usanov unequivocally condemned the policy Western countries in the post-Soviet space.
Young Pasha Usanov during one of Michael Jackson's visits to Russia
According to MK, the Investigative Committee was initially confident in the “Ukrainian” version of the conflict. But journalists wrote about this, citing an “unnamed source”; there were no official statements during the two weeks that Usanov was in a coma.
MK’s version was also confirmed by Usanov’s close friend Zakhar Prilepin. He was the first to announce a “Ukrainian trace” in the conflict that led to the death of the musician, in a blog on REN-TV:
“Pasha was sitting in a bar, discussing exactly the same topics that we discussed with him - Donbass. It hurt us with him - and, there is nothing to hide, we talked and talk about it often. In the cafe there was someone who , apparently, they didn’t like the conversation. They approached Pasha and hit him on the head. Face to face with him, the killer had much less chance to stand up for himself.
Result: fracture of the base of the skull and intracerebral hematoma. Three weeks in a coma. The other day his wife Yulia asked him to pray for the doctors. Today Pasha died without waking up from a coma. People have multiplied who kill for a word, for a position, for courage.
He did not take up arms. He helped the children."
Prilepin’s publication was picked up by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova. On her Facebook, she wrote that Usanov’s killers will have neither respect nor European values until they “stop shooting people on Maidans, burning in trade union houses and killing in bars on national and ideological grounds,” clearly hinting at the ethnicity of the attackers :
A few hours after the publication of “MK” and almost a day after Prilepin’s post, the Investigative Committee released an official statement from its representative Vladimir Markin. He rejected the version about the interethnic background of the conflict, citing the “personal enmity” that arose between Usanov and Dobry:
“Of course, as part of the investigation, all versions of what happened will be checked, but at this stage It is premature to draw clear conclusions about the motive and circumstances of the crime. Moreover, the investigation can now state that the version of the conflict due to differences in views on the situation in Donbass has not been confirmed. So far, the version of the conflict based on personal hostility is confirmed."
Contrary to the statement of the Investigative Committee, on April 22, Life published information about the attacker’s membership in one of the nationalist groups, which was established after analyzing his body tattoos. If Usanov came into conflict with representatives of Russian or Ukrainian right-wing radical associations, a “political” version of the murder is more than likely. Many neo-Nazi associations sharply criticized the Donbass militias, and some radicals (for example, Roman Zukhel and other Azov militants) went to the South-East of Ukraine to fight the “Russians” and “Vata”. On April 22 with his new publication this confirmed and Zakhar Prilepin:
“Progressive publicists, I see, have become excited and are writing long letters about the murdered Pasha. It is clear to them in advance that Pasha was “simply killed.” I repeat to you once again that there was a wild, almost to the point of a fight, argument with two trans-Ukrainians on the topic of Donbass. There is there are many witnesses to this. Then Pasha came out and was attacked from behind. If this is such a coincidence, then... But I don’t really believe in such coincidences, no matter what Markin says.”
In August last year, the lead singer of “Lube” Nikolai Rastorguev was banned from entering the country by the Ukrainian authorities, and in January of this year, the entire work of the group was subject to sanctions - their songs were prohibited from being played in public places and even from being sung in karaoke bars. In a comment to Gazeta.ru, the leader of Lyube asked not to rush to conclusions until the investigation is completed. According to him, the band's bassist was “completely non-aggressive and an open person, who did a lot of charity work and creativity.”
Alexander Shaganov, the author of the lyrics of the hits of the Lyube group, also remembers the human qualities of the musician. He is sure that Usanov “died in battle”:
Music in war
The bass guitarist of "Lube" has never hidden his position regarding the conflict in Donbass. Back in 2014, when the DPR declared its independence, Pavel, along with a small group of artists, went there to perform at a festive concert.
Acquaintances and friends of Usanov say that the musician not only paid great attention to the topic of Donbass, but was closely involved in the fate of children who did not become refugees and remained to live in war conditions. In 2015 took place a charity concert“Big Donbass”, and in the same year the musician twice held children’s musical competition“Native Spaces”, which was broadcast right during the bombing of Donbass cities. Usanov also helped organize excursions for children from Donbass to Russian cities, and in an interview he shared his impressions of communicating with young talents, whom he tried to arrange as leading music universities countries.
Usanov at the "Big Donbass" festival, August 15, 2015
Artem Artemov, editor-in-chief of the magazine “ Russian word”, in an interview with MK, he emphasized that Pavel never took up arms - all his trips to Donbass concerned exclusively children and charity. According to him, in 2014, when the Ukrainian army was constantly bombing the Donetsk region, Usanov went to orphanages and hospitals to see sick and wounded children.
Fans of the band and Pavel himself took the tragedy in the musician’s family very closely. When he ended up in intensive care, many responded to the request of Usanov’s wife and sent money to his family.
Pavel Usanov, who left behind a wife and two children (he spoke very touchingly about their upbringing in one of latest videos), was buried in his native Novocheboksarsk on April 21.
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Shortly before his death, the musician sent his beloved to the television project “The Voice”
A month ago the Lyube group lost a talented bass guitarist Pavel USANOV. For two and a half weeks, doctors in the capital fought for his life after a severe head injury that the musician received in a fight, but on April 19 his heart stopped.
This tragic story It immediately became overgrown with rumors. Someone said that the drunk artist himself started a brawl in a bar not far from his home in the Moscow region. Some believe that 40-year-old Usanov was killed for Political Views, because he traveled to Donbass more than once with concerts.
His widow Juliana told Express Gazeta about the life and death of Pavel.
Everyone who lives next door to Usanov, they unanimously repeat: they have never met a more decent, kind and sympathetic person. Pavel, despite the fact that he played in Lyube for 20 years, did not even have a hint of star fever. Between tours, he managed to teach local children how to play the guitar, helped orphanages, organized music festivals...
Pasha had a dream - to make me an artist,” Yuliana smiles through tears, “He always joked: “When you become a star, you will support the whole family!” He passed on his experience to me, and shortly before his death he signed me up for the casting of the television project “The Voice”. Now I don’t know how I’ll go there, but for Pavlusha’s sake I have to try. He really wanted this. We lived in love and harmony for three years. Who would have known that ours happy relationship they will end up so absurdly.
- There are various rumors surrounding Pavel’s death...
That is why I want to tell the truth through your newspaper. The fact that Pasha ended up in the bar that evening was an absolute coincidence. Lent was in full swing, and my husband, a deeply religious man, did not even leave the house without prayer, not to mention drinking during such a sacred time for Orthodox Christians. Everything that Pasha did that day was not typical of him.
In the morning we decided to go for honey, but before that we stopped in for a cup of coffee in a cafe near the house. There he received a call from his mother. She had a bad dream. We reassured her, because Pashka was alive and well and simply glowing with happiness.
At that moment, Alexander, our neighbor, with whom we periodically met in the temple, appeared on the threshold of the establishment. We were never friends with him, but the news that Sasha became a dad brought Pashka into wild delight. Previously, he would never have celebrated anything with a person he knew only briefly. And then I decided. I didn’t try to dissuade him and left on business. And when she returned, she found her husband at Alexander’s house drinking cognac, which, like other strong drinks, he never really liked.
I became very tense and began to persuade him to go home. The husband promised that he would be there soon, but he never came.
At three o'clock in the morning he was brought to the threshold by the guards of our village. They said he drank too much. When I undressed him, I noticed that there was not a single abrasion on his body. In the morning, calls from “Lube” began: Pasha was supposed to fly to St. Petersburg for a concert.
I started waking him up, because he had never missed a single performance in his life. But he couldn’t get up, complained of a headache and was somehow lethargic.
When neighbor Alexander called with questions: “What’s wrong with Pasha? They told me he was beaten,” everything fell into place. I dialed Rastorgueva, he ordered to urgently call an ambulance. I was worried that the journalists would make a fuss, saying that the Lyube guitarist was drunk to death, but Kolya said that all this was nonsense.
The doctors who arrived examined my husband and found nothing, but recommended that he go with them to Dmitrov for gastric lavage. Pasha himself got into the car, and to my questions about the fight he replied that he didn’t remember anything.
At the hospital it turned out that he had a fracture of the frontal bone and numerous brain contusions. I started calling Rastorguev again. Kolya immediately called an ambulance to transport us to Moscow. On the way, Pasha was conscious and even joked. When we were taken to Sklif, he was immediately sent to the operating room. Nine hours later, the doctor said that everything went fine and that tomorrow he would be brought out of an induced coma.
I went home, and after a while the Internet was filled with ridiculous rumors that Usanov was dying, and doctors could not find his relatives. I immediately rushed to the hospital. There they told me that my husband’s injury was incompatible with life. Like, even if a miracle happens, he will remain a “vegetable”, he will only lie there. The ground disappeared from under my feet... It’s good that there were people nearby who loved Pasha very much and even began to raise money for his rehabilitation. Until the very end they believed in miracles.
Fatal blow
- Did you find out why your husband was beaten?
After I went home, Pasha and his neighbor stopped by a local bar. There, the husband began to tell Alexander about his trip to Donbass. Last year he carried humanitarian aid there and participated in a competition to identify young talents“Native Spaces” to distract children from the war and give them a holiday. It was a difficult trip, its participants constantly came under fire.
Pasha’s story was accidentally heard by two Odessa residents sitting at the next table. The peace-loving Pavlusha very soon turned the verbal skirmish into a joke. Even in the video that has spread around the Internet, it is noticeable that the fuss at the bar counter is ordinary tomfoolery. Yes, one of the Odessa residents dropped Pasha on the floor, and I suspect that my husband could have hit his head, but after that he got up and talked with these guys for a long time.
At some point, the husband accidentally hit a completely stranger behind the bar with his elbow. It was Maxim Dobry(who is now suspected of brutally beating Pavel. - A.K.). He had nothing to do with Odessa residents, but for some reason he reacted aggressively towards my husband. Maxim's comrade tried to calm him down. This seemed to be the end of the incident. The men hugged each other and drank beer.
Our neighbor, whose son Pasha celebrated, fell asleep on the table, and when the establishment began to close, Alexander, without saying a word, got up and went home. Odessa residents also left. Pasha, Dobry and his friend remained at the bar, who had just called a taxi.
When the car arrived, Dobry refused to leave. But I know for sure that if he had attacked my husband alone, Pasha would have instantly laid him down on his shoulder.
He was definitely attacked by several people, which is confirmed by a witness who watched everything from the window of his house. He heard screams on the street. On the road not far from the checkpoint of our village there was a car in which Pasha, Dobry and two others were noisily sorting things out. I don’t know who they are—whether Dobrogo’s help or returning Odessa residents. One thing is clear - Pasha was beaten professionally, so that no traces were left. Experts say they were beaten either with a bat covered in rubber or with something heavy wrapped in cloth. That is, at that moment they were already purposefully killing him.
- Didn’t the village guards hear the screams?
Pasha even dropped in to ask for help. While the guards were running out, the two jumped into the car and fled. Dobry hid from Pasha, and when he turned around and went home, he struck him in the head. Seeing the guards, Dobry tried to hide, but the guys managed to photograph him. This man was in prison twice - for robbery and drugs. But all of Pasha’s personal belongings, except for the wedding ring, remained with him. And the ring may have been lost in the fight. After fatal blow the husband went limp, but was still able to walk on his own for some time. And then he lost consciousness. Security picked him up and brought him home. They did not think that this blow would be fatal.
I worried for a long time: what if we lost precious time by not immediately calling an ambulance. But doctors said the injury was so serious that it was impossible to prevent the brain-damaging processes.
Guitar as an inheritance
- There were rumors that Pasha was going to leave Lyube.
Pasha always said that without this group he would not have existed. After all, he is a simple boy from Novocheboksarsk, who graduated from Gnesinka with honors and decided to try his luck at the casting in “Lube”. Naturally, he - a Russian hero with blue eyes - was immediately noticed. For 20 years, Pasha stood behind Rastorguev’s left shoulder, who always felt his support. Of course, the husband had no intention of leaving. He just wanted to do a solo project at the same time. We wrote songs together, which we then performed with pleasure.
Kolya is having a hard time with his friend’s departure and is trying in every possible way to help me - both morally and financially. I am grateful to him for a lot. Together with Rastorguev, we did everything to ensure that the case of the murder of our Pasha was transferred to the Investigative Committee.
- Many people see something mystical in this story.
Pasha had a guitar, which he inherited from the previous musicians of “Lube” - they also died tragically. He didn’t play on it, but literally before his death for some reason he starred in a video with it. I try not to think about it, otherwise I might go crazy. The only thing I believe in: that evening Pasha was left without protection, because for no apparent reason he suddenly took off pectoral cross, although I've never done this before. And what was lost in the fight wedding ring I wore it for him at the wedding. I know: my husband’s killer will answer for everything before God!
- Pasha has a son Vasya and a daughter Sonya from his first marriage. Is there a question about the division of inheritance?
Many people think that since Pasha is from “Lube”, it means he doesn’t have a lot of money. In fact, he and I lived quite modestly. The husband is generally unmercenary. I was very afraid to get involved in any business projects, because where there is a lot of money, little is done according to the law. Although people often approached him with all sorts of proposals, because they knew “Lube” - the president’s favorite group. He and I started with clean slate- everything that was acquired earlier was decided to be left in the past. Pasha provided the children with housing, and we rented this house. He walked around with a very simple telephone; he only needed money for strings. So we have nothing to share. Except his guitars...
However, none of this matters. Soon I’m going to Donbass with Pasha’s “Native Spaces” competition. The husband really wanted his business to live and develop. For me, this is the most important inheritance.
40-year-old bass guitarist of the Lyube group Pavel Usanov, who fell into a coma after a fight in the Moscow region, died in the capital’s hospital. The injuries received by the musician during the fight turned out to be incompatible with life.
Pavel Usanov, who was in a coma for almost three weeks, died on the evening of April 19, without regaining consciousness.
Two weeks ago, the guitarist of the Lyube group Pavel Usanov underwent craniotomy.
“Friends, Let’s Pray for the health of Pasha Usanov, the permanent guitarist of the Lyube group. He had a craniotomy, like I did 15 years ago, and only with your prayers will he recover. God bless!”, wrote the lead singer of the group “ Ivanushki International"Kirill Andreev on Instagram.
Let us remind you that the musician of the Lyube group Pavel Usanov was urgently hospitalized in an unconscious state on the evening of April 2 at the Sklifosovsky Institute with a head wound after a fight near the Beer Pub establishment in the Dmitrovsky district.
He was diagnosed with a fracture of the base of the skull, a closed head injury and a concussion.
Maxim Dobry, a resident of the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region, became a suspect in beating the musician. The man denied his guilt, but witnesses pointed to him. In addition, it was recorded by surveillance cameras.
As a result, a criminal case was opened under the article “Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm”, providing for a penalty of up to eight years in prison.
According to the writer Zakhar Prilepin, Pavel Usanov discussed the topic of Donbass, to which he often came and helped local residents. Someone in the bar didn’t like Usanov’s speeches; he came up from behind and hit the musician on the head.
Pavel Usanov - musician, bass guitarist music group"Lube" (1996-2016), founder and artistic director of the rock group "Counter Boy".
Pavel Usanov graduated from the Kirov School of Arts, served in the army, and studied at the Faculty of Military Conductors at the Moscow State Conservatory. P.I. Tchaikovsky, graduated with honors Russian Academy music named after Gnesins and graduate school, took private composition lessons from Professor of the Moscow Conservatory Yu. V. Vorontsov.
During the years when he was a cadet at the Faculty of Military Conductors, he played jazz in Moscow in the Manhattan group, then in the Phonograph Jazz Band of Sergei Zhilin.
In 1996, an advertisement appeared in newspapers that, in connection with tragic death bass guitarist Alexander Nikolaev, the Lyube group announces a competition for a new performer. After he was noticed as part of a jazz quartet, Pavel passed the competition and became the bass guitarist of “Lube”.
While studying at the Academy. Gnessins, Usanov took up composition and began writing music for theatrical productions, audio plays and films. Created music for 15 documentaries on Channel One, collaborating with Pavel Sheremet, for the film “Russian Sacrifice” about Pskov paratroopers, etc.
Continuing to work at Lyube as a musician, Usanov formed the group “Counter Boy” in 2006, becoming its artistic director and composer. After a long search for a soloist, the album “Everything will be as it should!” was released in 2009, in which Nikolai Rastorguev, officers of the Alpha special forces and Alexey Petrenko participate.
While continuing to work at Lyube, he also gave concerts with the group “Counter Boy”, but in 2012 he changed the composition and then became a soloist in his group.
He created an acoustic version of his program called “Acoustic View”, where singer Juliana Green took part. He actively performed throughout the country with his own repertoire.
In 2015, Pavel created his cultural and educational movement “Native Spaces”, and the first project was a children’s music competition, which was held in the Donbass, Donetsk, during the hostilities.
Personal life of Pavel Usanov.
The first wife is Marina Usanova, with whom Pavel lived for 8 years. They left two children, Vasily and Sophia. The second wife is singer Juliana Green.
The attack on the bass guitarist of the Lyube group, according to official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, was a manifestation of the policy of persecution for dissent, which is being pursued by supporters of the new government in Ukraine within the country and abroad. Such an approach threatens their death, she is sure.
ON THIS TOPIC
"Give them human rights, European values, respect. You will have neither values nor respect until you stop shooting people on the Maidans, burning in trade union houses and killing in bars on national and ideological grounds. First, intensive rehabilitation from nationalism, then everything the rest. Otherwise - clinical death from self-poisoning,” Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page.
Writer and musician Zakhar Prilepin spoke about the details of the fateful evening in his column on REN TV. “Pasha was sitting in a bar, discussing exactly the same topics that we discussed with him - Donbass. It hurt us with him - and, there is nothing to hide, we talked and talk about it often,” he noted. "There was someone in the cafe who, apparently, did not like the conversation. Pasha was hit on the head. From behind. Face to face with him, the killer had much less chance. Pasha could stand up for himself. Result: fracture of the base of the skull and intracerebral hematoma ", added Prilepin.
“Three weeks in a coma. The other day his wife Yulia asked to pray for the doctors. Today (April 19 – Ed.) Pasha, without leaving a coma, died. People who kill for a word, for a position, for courage have proliferated. He didn’t take up arms. He helped the children. How to forgive this? It’s very painful,” the writer admitted.
Pavel Usanov is known for his help to the residents of Donbass, in particular to children. In 2015, he organized the cultural and educational movement "Native Spaces", the first project of which was a children's music competition. The event took place in Donetsk during the fighting between security forces controlled by Kyiv and representatives of Donbass.
Let us remind you that the musician of the Lyube group Pavel Usanov in the evening of April 2, in an unconscious state, was urgently hospitalized at the Sklifosovsky Institute with a head wound after brutal beating at the Beer Pub establishment in the Dmitrovsky district. He was diagnosed with a fracture of the base of the skull, a closed head injury and a concussion.
Maxim Dobry, a resident of the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region, is suspected of the crime. The attacker denied guilt, but witnesses pointed to him. In addition, his actions were recorded by surveillance cameras. A criminal case has been initiated under the article “Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm”, which provides for a penalty of up to eight years in prison. Due to the death of the musician, the case may be reclassified to a more serious charge.
“Pasha died today,” said the press service of Igor Matvienko. Pavel Usanov died on April 19 in one of the Moscow hospitals, where he was taken in an unconscious state.
At the beginning of April, information appeared about the arrest of a suspect in the beating of a bass guitarist, who on the night of April 2-3 was hospitalized with serious head injuries at the Research Institute named after. Sklifosovsky. Source in law enforcement agencies reported that 40-year-old Usanov was hospitalized in in serious condition with a traumatic brain injury after an attack by unknown persons in the Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region. The musician was taken to intensive care. He was hospitalized in a Moscow hospital in an unconscious state. Doctors assessed the musician’s condition as serious. He was diagnosed with multiple fractures and a concussion. It was subsequently reported that the bass player underwent a craniotomy.
The day before, his condition improved, and Usanov’s relatives even announced a collection of donations for the musician’s rehabilitation.
On April 3, a suspect in the attack on Usanov was detained in the Moscow region. A criminal case was opened against a 39-year-old resident of Solnechnogorsk district under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm”). According to TASS, due to the death of the musician, the case may be reclassified to a more serious offense.
Usanov joined Lyube in 1996 after the death of the previous bassist of the group, Alexander Nikolaev, in a car accident. Before that he played in Sergei Zhilin’s Phonograph Jazz Band. In 2006, he created the group “Counter Boy”, where he performed in parallel with “Lube”.
Writer Zakhar Prilepin spoke about the reasons for the beating of the bass guitarist of the Lyube group Pavel Usanov, as a result of which the musician fell into a coma and subsequently died. He wrote about this on his blog on the REN TV website.
The incident occurred in one of the cafes in the Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region. “Pasha was sitting in a bar, discussing exactly the same topics that we discussed with him - Donbass. It hurt us with him - and, there is nothing to hide, we talked about it often,” Prilepin wrote.
According to him, one of those present in the establishment did not like the conversation. “They approached Pasha and hit him on the head. Behind. Face to face with him, the killer had much less chance. Pasha could stand up for himself. Result: fracture of the base of the skull and intracerebral hematoma,” the writer noted.
The information provided by Prilepin was commented on by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. “Give them human rights, European values, respect. You will have neither values nor respect until you stop shooting people on Maidans, burning in trade union houses and killing in bars on national and ideological grounds. First, intensive rehabilitation from nationalism, then everything else. Otherwise - clinical death from self-poisoning,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
