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A Russian artist known for satirical works targeting President Vladimir Putin was shot dead in eastern Poland on Monday, while two Belarusian nationals were detained in connection with the killing, Polish officials said Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Semyon Skrepetsky, the professional name of 44-year-old Russian citizen Robert Kuzovkov, who had lived in the eastern Polish city of Biala Podlaska near the Belarusian border.
“An investigation is being conducted into the murder of a 44-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation, known in the media as Semyon Skrepetsky,” Marcin Kozak, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office in Lublin, told reporters.
The two Belarusian nationals were detained near their country's consulate in Biala Podlaska, where the shooting occurred.
Kozak said no charges had been filed against them and that they remained available to prosecutors and police for questioning.
Polish officials said Skrepetsky was shot three times Monday morning by an unidentified attacker armed with a handgun.
After the artist fell to the ground, the gunman approached him and fired two additional shots at close range.
Police confirmed that a 44-year-old Russian national was attacked on a street near the city center and later died because of his injuries.
The attacker fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Andrzej Fijolek said the circumstances indicated that the shooting was planned.
“If someone approaches a specific person on the street and fires shots, everything indicates they planned to kill them,” Fijolek told Polish media.
Investigators have not established a motive, and authorities have not announced evidence directly linking the killing to Russian state actors.
Polish prosecutors and police are continuing their investigation.
Skrepetsky was known for provocative caricatures of prominent Russian political figures, including Putin, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
One of Skrepetsky’s best-known satirical works reinterprets a traditional Orthodox icon, depicting Stalin cradling an infant Putin in place of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus.
Polish broadcasters reported that Skrepetsky had recently attended a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin.
Images circulated on social media showed him carrying artwork depicting Stalin feeding a baby Putin.
The artist moved to Poland in 2021, saying he feared political persecution in Russia.
While living in exile, he attended Russian opposition events but also openly criticized opposition groups.
The shooting took place during heightened tensions between Poland, Russia and Belarus.
Warsaw has accused Moscow and Minsk of carrying out hybrid activities against Poland, including cyberattacks, sabotage attempts, disinformation campaigns and organized migrant pressure along the European Union’s eastern border.
Polish authorities have detained multiple individuals in recent years on suspicion of spying for Russia and Belarus, amid warnings from security officials that Russian intelligence remains highly active across Central Europe.
The shooting occurred near Poland’s border with Belarus, where security forces have been on heightened alert.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and additional findings will be released as evidence is gathered.
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