Renowned Crimean Tatar musician Rustem Bari has passed away

On August 10, news broke of the death of the renowned Crimean Tatar musician, percussionist, and darbuka virtuoso Rustem Bari. He was 61 years old.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center announced the musician’s death.

Rustem Bari was born on September 25, 1964. He was a leading figure in Crimean Tatar musical culture and specialized in traditional percussion instruments—the darbuka, defi, and others.

Bari received his musical education at the Tashkent State Institute of Culture, where he majored in “brass band conducting” and studied percussion instruments.

Even as a student, he performed in various musical ensembles—symphony and wind orchestras, a violin ensemble, an Uzbek folk ensemble, as well as instrumental and folk-instrumental groups.

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For many years, Bari worked in the genres of ethno and jazz. He collaborated with Ukrainian and international musicians, including the renowned Crimean Tatar guitarist Enver Izmaylov. In 1995, together with flutist Narket Ramazanov, they formed a trio, whose work resulted in the album *Minaret*.

The musician has also participated in numerous concerts and musical projects. In particular, in July 2025 in Kezlev (Yevpatoria), he performed with Enver Izmaylov as part of the “Jazz by the Sea” program.

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The Crimean Tatar musical tradition held a special place in Rustem Bari’s work. He promoted traditional Crimean Tatar instruments and helped preserve their sound for future generations.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center expressed its condolences to his family, loved ones, friends, and everyone who knew and appreciated the musician’s work.

Recently, Petro Volvach —a renowned Ukrainian scholar, public figure, researcher of the Symyrenko family, and one of the founders of the Ukrainian national movement in Crimea—passed away at the age of 88.

Earlier,Asan Dzhemilev, a veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement and theolder brother of Mustafa Dzhemilev, died in occupied Crimea.

Андрій Колісніченко