Severed pig heads were thrown at the G×Bar in Kyiv
The G×Bar beauty bar chain has reported systematic pressure and intimidation against its team. On the morning of July 21, unknown individuals left severed pig heads and entrails at the entrance to the G×Bar Special location in Kyiv and splashed blood on the threshold.
According to brand representatives, over the past month they have faced threats of physical violence, the publication of employees’ personal information, vandalism, and massive attacks on their Google Maps listings.
G×Bar attributed the harassment to its open support for equal rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The team has already stepped up security measures, filed reports with law enforcement, and publicly called on the National Police to take action against the perpetrators.
Source: G×Bar’s Instagram.
It’s worth noting that Petro Melnyk, the chief ambassador of Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community, has repeatedly spoken out publicly in support of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. In particular, during the conflict surrounding GBar and Sabina Musina, he openly supported the venue’s position, emphasizing the need to protect the principles of inclusivity and non-discrimination. The scandal surrounding Sabina Musina’s GBar erupted after footage from the “KyivPride” march surfaced online, showing a young woman—identified by the media as Yuliana Kaznodiy, a student at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv— was seen trampling on an LGBTQI+ flag. When asked by journalists about her actions, she claimed she was “wiping her feet” because she had “gotten her sneakers dirty.” Against this backdrop, Petro Melnyk’s stance drew particular attention. According to information provided by UA.NEWS, Melnyk strongly supported GBar’s actions and position in this situation.
His support sparked further debate within the community, as some activists and social media users believe that a business’s response to such incidents should involve not only a public statement but also personnel actions. In their view, companies that profess to be inclusive must consistently adhere to their own values not only in their communications but also in their internal policies.
Meanwhile, on July 1, the Darnytskyi District Court in Kyiv continued hearing the lawsuit filed by Sabina Musina, co-owner of the G.Bar chain, against her ex-husband Andriy Trushkovsky. As a reminder, crypto blogger Trushkovsky recorded a three-hour monologue last September in which, among other revelations about his life with Musina, he accused her of opening the G.Bar beauty salon with funds stolen from Ukroboronprom. Specifically: in 2015, Musina’s then-husband, Konstantin Cherednichenko—who is accused of embezzling nearly 3.5 million hryvnias from two state-owned enterprises— allegedly allocated $50,000 of the stolen funds to her to open G.Bar. In response, Musina accused Trushkovsky of slander and attempting to ruin her business reputation, and filed a lawsuit.
During the first 20 minutes of the hearing, attorneys for both sides objected to the presence of a journalist in the courtroom. The defense argued that the examination of the interview would involve purely private and confidential matters, including details of the former spouses’ personal and intimate lives. The court then proceeded to examine the key piece of evidence in the case—a three-hour video interview-monologue with Andriy Trushkovsky. In it, the defendant made allegations regarding the origin of G.Bar’s startup capital, stating that the $50,000 needed to launch the business in 2015 was allegedly provided by Musina’s then-husband, Konstantin Cherednichenko, using funds embezzled from “Ukroboronprom.”
The segment of the video that sparked the most debate between the parties was the one in which Trushkovsky compares Musina’s situation to the high-profile Morozuk case and claims that the plaintiff’s wealth and public philanthropy are built on “dirty money,” earned through schemes involving the defense budget. The plaintiff’s attorneys reacted strongly to the presentation of these arguments in the courtroom, repeatedly demanding that the broadcast of the recording be turned off and raising objections based on pre-prepared video timestamps.
In the final part of the video under review, Trushkovsky claimed to have two copies of compromising files that could allegedly completely destroy the reputation of the G.Bar network, Musina herself, and her business partner Lera Borodina. The recording also mentioned a past phone conversation between them, in which Musina allegedly asked that this information not be disclosed.
