Rapper commits suicide, refusing to go to war
HRWF/ Hotnewhiphop (02.10.2022) – The tragic act was in protest of the Russian military, particularly the war against Ukraine.
Russian rapper Walkie has caused shock in Russia after he took his life after being drafted into the Russian Army. The 27-year-old believed the war against Ukraine was unjust and, according to The U.S. Sun, told friends that he could not “take the sin of murder on my soul.” Walkie, real name Ivan Vitalievich Petunin, was one of 300,000 extra Russian citizens who President Vladimir Putin drafted for his continued war against Ukraine.
Walkie’s body was found near a high-rise building in the city of Krasnodar after having talked to fans about his decision. “If you are watching this video, then I am no longer alive,” he told supporters in a video. “I can’t take the sin of murder on my soul and I don’t want to. I am not ready to kill for any ideals.”
“I choose to remain in history forever,” Walkie continued. “As a man who did not support what was happening. I am not ready to take up arms and kill my own kind.”
This was not the first time the rapper had been drafted into the Russian Army. He hated his previous experience, and first tried to get out of serving again by getting signed into a mental hospital. Unfortunately, that did not pan out, and he took his own life as “a way to express [his] final protest.”
The Russo-Ukrainian conflict has a long history, with war between them and Russia bubbling up over decades and decades. It gained international recognition in 2014 and once more in early 2022, when Russian forces began to invade the nation.
May Walkie Rest In Peace, and may the war between these countries end so more lives aren’t lost.
Kremlin spokesman’s son refuses to join Russian army in prank call
By AFP with Euronews (23.09.2022) – The son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to join Russia’s army in a prank call with opposition activists.
The viral stunt was released online shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilisation”.
Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he was “aware of it” but stated that the full transcript of the phone call had not been published.
The hoax was conducted live by Dmitri Nizovtsev, host of “People’s Politics” YouTube channel that was created by supporters of jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
In the viral video, Nizovtsev called Nikolai Peskov, posing as an army recruiter in charge of calling up reservists to fight in Ukraine.
“A summons [for medical examination] was sent to you today,” Nizovtsev said in a firm voice to Nikolai Peskov.
But the 32-year-old implied that he would refuse to be enlisted, stating “of course, I won’t come tomorrow at 10:00.”
“You must understand, if you know that I am Mr Peskov, how wrong it is for me to be there,” he added, apparently disconcerted.
“I will deal with it on another level,” Nikolai said, before stating that he is not a volunteer “rank and file”.
“I have no problem defending my homeland – but I need to understand the expediency of my appearance there, I am talking about certain political nuances.”
Moscow has said that the “partial mobilisation” would only involve300,000 reservists who have “military experience” but some citizens are fleeing the country following Putin’s speech.