Key facts
- A Russian artist critical of Vladimir Putin was shot and killed in Biała Podlaska, Poland.
- The victim, identified as Robert Kuzovkov (pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky), was shot five times.
- Two Belarusian nationals were detained near the Belarusian consulate in connection with the shooting.
- Skrepetsky had recently protested in Berlin with a caricature of Stalin and Putin.
- Prosecutors confirmed the artist's work criticized current Russian authorities.
A Russian artist known for his criticism of Vladimir Putin was shot and killed in the eastern Polish town of Biała Podlaska. The victim, identified as Robert Kuzovkov, who also used the artistic pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was reportedly shot five times, including in the head, by an unidentified gunman on Monday. Marcin Kozak, a spokesperson for the district prosecutor in Lublin, confirmed that Skrepetsky's artistic activities included criticism of current Russian authorities. Three days before his death, Skrepetsky had participated in a protest in Berlin featuring a caricature of Joseph Stalin and Putin. Two Belarusian nationals, aged 33 and 37, have been detained in connection with the shooting, though they have not been charged. Polish authorities are investigating the incident, with Poland having previously stated it is a target for Russian espionage due to its role in supporting Ukraine.