Russian Putin Critic Shot Execution-Style in Poland
A Russian artist known for anti-Putin caricatures was shot dead execution-style in Poland, with two Belarusian nationals detained in connection with the politically motivated killing.
Robert Kuzovkov, a Kremlin opposition figure who worked under the artistic pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was gunned down Monday morning in the eastern Polish town of Biala Podlaska, located near the Belarusian border, as New York Post reports.
The 44-year-old was initially shot twice by an assailant who approached him on foot, officials confirmed. Marcin Kozak, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin, described the brutal nature of the attack.
After the victim collapsed to the ground, the gunman moved closer and fired three additional rounds before fleeing the scene rapidly, Kozak stated. At least one of the five bullets struck Kuzovkov in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Polish authorities have detained two Belarusian nationals in connection with the killing, though neither has been formally charged. Their precise involvement in the shooting remains under investigation.
The timing of the murder has raised serious questions about potential political motivation. According to New York Post, Kuzovkov was killed just three days after participating in a protest in Berlin on Russia Day, the June 12 celebration marking Russia’s declaration of sovereignty prior to the Soviet Union’s collapse.
At that demonstration outside the Russian embassy, the artist displayed a caricature depicting both Putin and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. He also wore a Russian flag attached to his trousers that dragged along the pavement as a form of protest.
Kozak confirmed that the victim was known for his public artistic activism, noting that under the Skrepetsky pseudonym, he regularly expressed harsh criticism of current Russian Federation government policies.
Poland has emerged as a critical hub for military aid and logistical support to Ukraine throughout Kyiv’s ongoing war against Moscow. This strategic role has increasingly made the country a target for Russian intelligence operations, Polish officials have warned.
The Russian embassy has not responded to requests for comment regarding the killing. A spokesperson for Poland’s special services minister confirmed that the Internal Security Agency is now working alongside police and prosecutors on the investigation.
With information from New York Post
