Poet of Protest: Russian Artist Shot Dead in Polish Carpark
Police in Poland are investigating an execution‑style murder of a 44‑year‑old Russian critic of Vladimir Putin, who used the pseudonym "Semyon Skrepetsky" to show caricatures of Russian leaders.
The murder took place in a car park near the Belarusian consulate in the city of Biała Podlaska, about 40km from the Belarus border. The gunman fired five shots—three in the head, two in the chest—before fled the scene. Five shell casings and a 9mm bullet were recovered on site.
Polish prosecutors identified the victim as Robert Kuzovkov under the name Semyon Skrepetsky. He was known for his public artistic activities that criticized Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Two Belarusian citizens aged 33 and 37 were detained near the consulate. Their role in the incident remains under investigation. Police are awaiting an autopsy slated for Wednesday.
The victim often posted videos of protests, including a recent clip from a Russia Day protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin showing a painting caricaturing Putin and Stalin.
This incident underscores increasing tensions for political dissenters outside Russia’s borders, especially in Poland, where both countries share a complex historical relationship.
