27-year-old Russian rapper, Ivan Vitalievich Petunin, was found dead on Friday after jumping from the tenth floor of a high-rise apartment building in Krasnodar, Russia.
It has been reported that the rapper, popularly known as Walkie T, was among the names of those conscripted to fight against Ukraine after Russia made it mandatory for all appropriately-aged men to participate in the war.
He allegedly committed suicide to avoid being drafted, declaring he was “not ready to kill for any ideals”.
New York Post reported that Walkie T’s death has since been confirmed by his mother and girlfriend.
TMZ recently published a translated video of Walkie T’s suicide message posted on his Telegram channel.
“If you are watching this video, then I am no longer alive. I can’t take the sin of murder on my soul and I don’t want to,” said the rapper.
He added that “it seems to me that partial mobilisation will become full in a few days” and later called Putin a “maniac”.
“I choose to remain in history forever. As a man who did not support what was happening. I am not ready to take up arms and kill my own kind,” he continued.
“Forgive me, my loved ones, but sometimes you have to die for your principles. My last decision is exactly how I die,” he concluded.
Walkie T had already served in the Russian army after which he was admitted to a mental hospital for medical assistance.
He submitted a request for deferment citing mental illness , but his request was denied by the Russian military.
Also read:
Reducing the stigma of suicide this World Suicide Prevention Day
Picture: Facebook