Russian artist and Putin critic shot dead in Poland

Russian creator and Kremlin professional Semyon Skrepetsky was changeable dormant Monday greeting successful Poland, officials said, successful a sidesplitting that has shocked absorption activists and raised questions astir whether his governmental enactment played a relation successful his death.

Prosecutors identified the unfortunate arsenic 44-year-old Robert Kuzovkov, amended known by his creator name, Semyon Skrepetsky. He had been surviving successful Poland since leaving Russia respective years agone and was known for performances and artwork attacking Vladimir Putin and different authoritarian leaders.

Russian dissident Semyon Skrepetsky with immoderate of his creation connected May 6, 2026, successful Venice, Italy. Stefano Mazzola / Getty Images

The shooting happened soon earlier 10 a.m. successful a residential country of the eastbound Polish metropolis of Biała Podlaska. According to investigators, a antheral approached Skrepetsky connected a pedestrian way and opened fire. Three shots were fired first, they said. After Skrepetsky fell to the ground, the attacker reportedly walked person and fired 2 much times.

A preliminary introspection recovered 5 gunshot wounds, including injuries to the thorax and head. Investigators person not publically described the onslaught arsenic an execution, but the details released truthful acold suggest the gunman wanted to marque definite the unfortunate was dead.

The slayer escaped and has not been found.

Police launched a ample hunt cognition aft the shooting, mounting up checkpoints and looking for witnesses. Officers person secured surveillance footage and collected forensic grounds from the scene, prosecutors said.

On Tuesday, authorities confirmed that 2 Belarusian citizens had been detained adjacent the Belarusian consulate successful Biała Podlaska. Prosecutors stressed that the men person not been charged and that investigators are inactive trying to find whether they person immoderate transportation to the killing.

Skrepetsky near Russia successful 2021 saying helium feared governmental persecution. After arriving successful Poland, helium continued creating anti-Kremlin artwork and nationalist performances. His targets included Putin, Belarusian person Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen person Ramzan Kadyrov.

Just days earlier his death, helium staged a protestation successful Berlin successful beforehand of the Russian embassy. One of the works helium displayed linked modern Russia's enactment to the Soviet past. Images from the show dispersed online and drew attraction wrong Russian absorption circles.

According to Polish media reports, friends and supporters person said Skrepetsky received threats due to the fact that of his activism. Investigators person not confirmed immoderate nexus betwixt those threats and the shooting, but they person not ruled retired a governmental motive.

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