In brief
Police in Poland investigate the execution‑style murder of Semyon Skrepetsky, born Robert Kuzovkov, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The artist was shot five times in a car park in Biała Podlaska, a city only 25 miles from the Belarusian consulate. Five shell casings were recovered, and two Belarusian citizens were detained near the consulate. Skrepetsky was known for his sharp caricatures of Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and had recently participated in a protest in Berlin.
Police in Poland are investigating the execution‑style murder of Russian artist and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, Semyon Skrepetsky, whose real name is Robert Kuzovkov. The 44‑year‑old was shot dead on Monday morning in a car park in the Polish city of Biała Podlaska, about 40 kilometers from the Belarusian border.
Authorities say the artist was shot five times – in the head, chest and back – when he was approached by an unidentified gunman. As he fell to the ground, the assailant fired three more shots and fled the scene. The victim died at the location, police spokesperson Marcin Kozak told reporters.
Five shell casings and a 9mm Geco Luger bullet were recovered from the crime scene, adding to the evidence. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to confirm the cause of death and possible foul play.
Skrepetsky was known for his biting caricatures of leading politicians, including Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. He began working in Biała Podlaska in 2021 and used the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky in his public artistic activities. Videos from social media show him at a Russia Day protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on 12 June, carrying a painting that mocked Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
Police detained two Belarusian nationals in the city, aged 33 and 37, near the Belarusian consulate. The investigators are still determining their involvement. As the investigation unfolds, the case raises questions about cross‑border security and the safety of art‑activists in the region.
