A Russian artist and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, the 44‑year‑old Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot dead in the Polish town of Biała Podlaska, about 40 km from the Belarus border. Polish prosecutors described the scene as “a car park at 600 m from the Belarusian consulate” and noted the victim had been shot five times in the head, chest and back.
The victim, whose real name is Robert Kuzovkov, was known for satirical caricatures that portrayed Putin, Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov as historical villains, as well as mocking opposition figure Alexei Navalny. He had also created images of ordinary Ukrainians and used the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky to publish his work on Telegram and YouTube.
The murder, which police say began when an unidentified gunman fired two initial shots, involved a total of five attempts by the gunman who fled the scene after the victim collapsed. Five shell casings and a Geco 9mm Luger bullet were recovered from the scene; a post‑mortem is scheduled for Wednesday.
Two Belarusian citizens, aged 33 and 37, were detained near the consulate, but their exact roles remain unclear. The investigation has drawn attention to the increasing risks faced by political dissidents abroad.
Skrepetsky had received asylum in Biała Podlaska after leaving Russia in 2021 out of fear of prosecution. He left behind a wife and five children. A video posted the night before his death shows him participating in a “Russia Day” protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, carrying a painting that caricatured Putin and a flag tied to his trousers.
Friends and fellow artists remark on Skrepetsky’s reputation for “reckless and stubborn” behavior, which may have contributed to his exposure to danger. Polish authorities continue their investigation, while the case remains a stark reminder of the perils confronting outspoken artists in Russia’s sphere of influence.
