The soul burns together with the “temple”

Nelson Iskandaryan, a famous street artist in St. Petersburg, fought for a basement for 15 years. But they barely achieved it - they burned it

Nelson turned the empty, abandoned space that Nelson had occupied since 2011 into, as he says, a “temple of the soul.” He renovated, painted the walls, and decorated the interior. Those who come here don’t want to leave, and those who leave want to come back. In addition to the basement, Nelson transformed the surrounding yard. Now in St. Petersburg this place is called “Nelson’s basement” and “Nelson’s yard.” It is in the international tourist database. NTV, RTR and Channel One filmed stories about him. But Nelson himself almost lost it, not having official rights to this area.

Litigation and visiting offices exhausted Iskandaryan so much that two and a half years ago he wanted to give up everything and leave the city. High-ranking officials stopped him, promising a “quick solution to the issue.” But only last November Nelson managed to formalize the rights to housing (the tenant entered into an agreement with the city) and only for a rent of 11 thousand rubles per month (at first they promised to give him the basement for free use). However, Iskandaryan did not have time to celebrate this significant event in his life - on the night of November 27, the basement was set on fire.

Last try

Novaya talked about Nelson - an amazing person with a difficult fate, an artist, poet, musician, and a favorite of the townspeople - in May 2023. Just then Iskandaryan was seriously planning to leave St. Petersburg. Move to Crimea. I have already made an agreement with the family, who agreed to accept the guest with his entire camp. Together with Nelson, in a basement on Polozova Street live the dog Volchok (tossed in by a puppy), the cat Milka (picked up on the street), a crow and a dove (sick birds unable to fly).

...In February 2023, Nelson received a notice of “illegal unauthorized occupation of a non-residential property owned by the city.” The authorities demanded that the square be vacated by May 15, 2023. They warned: if the unauthorized person does not evict himself, the premises will be forcibly vacated.

Iskandaryan turned to district and city officials for help, but they just shrugged their shoulders. In the end, Nelson reached Smolny, where he was informed that the authorities had plans for a basement in a prestigious area: “In the near future, this premises is planned to be brought into commercial circulation.” Nelson understood everything and began to prepare to leave.

- And suddenly - bang! - recalls Iskandaryan. — A couple of days before leaving, a friend of mine came and said that she had turned to the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, Boris Piotrovsky, and he got involved in resolving my issue.

On the same day, Iskandaryan corresponded with Piotrovsky on social networks. And then, with the help of familiar lawyers, he began to prepare documents for registration of his underground living space. The difficult process lasted for two and a half years. Nelson was never able to obtain 16 square meters underground for free use. But he entered into an agreement with the city, and he was given official rights to rent a commercial space (basement) for 11 thousand rubles per month. And in addition, they calculated the debt - about 70 thousand rubles.

- Money? “I have them sometimes,” the musician grins. — People come, they put it on the table. I even have it written on the wall there: “No money needed.” But they've already put it down. 1000, 500 rubles, someone - 100... I say: take it, no need. And they: “This is not for you, this is for the dog, this is for the cat, this is for the crow...”

To pay off Iskandaryan’s multi-thousand-dollar debt and pay rent for several months in advance, St. Petersburg residents announced a collection. The problem was resolved in a matter of days. God himself ordered this event to be celebrated. But the holiday never happened.

Blue flame

On the night of November 27, Nelson's basement burst into flames.

“I didn’t sleep, I read the news,” says the owner. - Then the top jumps out: woof, woof, woof. I approached the door, I heard a crash and a roar, I opened the gate, and it was already blazing - everything was in flames. Here in the basement it instantly became hot, like an oven. I threw myself into the fire and ran out into the street. There was a bucket of laundry near my doorstep. I threw everything out of the bucket and ran out with the bucket. The fire reached me from all sides. I don’t understand how my hair didn’t catch fire.

There was no time to think at all, but something told me how to act.

“Although now, when I try to do what I did in the fire, I can’t do it,” continues Iskandaryan. “I’m scared I don’t know what worked.” When I fell out onto the asphalt, I was so happy! Then neighbor Sashka ran out to help, some girl, janitor Islam rushed over. From the upper floors, water was poured from five-liter bottles from the windows to prevent the fire from rising higher. It’s also good that I have a plastic pool in my yard. There was no need to look for where to get water, we just got it from the pool. When the firefighters arrived, we had practically put everything out. I just asked their basement not to flood too much.

A wooden extension at the entrance to the basement burned down in the fire, along with all the property in it, and the wall of the house was damaged. The amount of material damage is still being determined by investigators. Firefighters, having examined the scene, suspected arson and called the police to Polozov Street. And Nelson needed medical help for a burn on his hands.

Don't let anyone get you

Just a day later, law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of a suspect in the arson, 31-year-old St. Petersburg resident Vsevolod Dubinsky. On November 28, he was charged with attempted murder (Article 30, part 3, and Article 105, part 2, paragraph “e” of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The criminal case is still under investigation. Dubinsky was placed under arrest in a pre-trial detention center pending trial.

According to investigators, the basement arson was deliberate. The goal is to kill Nelson Iskandaryan. But Dubinsky did not complete his criminal intent for reasons beyond his control.

According to investigators, on the night of November 27, Dubinsky, “acting deliberately and realizing the public danger of his actions,” found an unidentified flammable liquid (presumably gasoline), which he poured over the walls of a wooden extension and the entrance door to the basement, and then set them on fire. According to investigators, Dubinsky was sure that Nelson would die and the fire would destroy all traces. Dubinsky managed to escape from the crime scene. But then everything didn’t go according to plan.

Despite the fact that the detainee himself does not admit guilt, Iskandaryan admits with a high degree of probability that it was Vsevolod Dubinsky who was involved in the arson. According to Nelson, the young man had long held a grudge against him. The men have known each other since 2018. However, Nelson did not like Vsevolod’s quarrelsome character. Gradually, the artist began to distance himself from Dubinsky, avoid communication, and his former friend perceived this as a betrayal and, the victim believes, decided to take revenge.

“They’re preparing a serious case for him,” says Nelson. “With an article like this, you can either waste a long time or go straight to the Northern Military District.”

The owner plans to restore the basement on his own. Friends and caring St. Petersburg residents promise to help - both with money and with their hands.

“I don’t know yet when the weather, health and other circumstances will allow us to get down to business, but we’ll definitely get it done by summer,” Nelson promises. - Then we’ll celebrate the housewarming!

Saint Petersburg