WARSAW — A Russian artist known for his criticism of President Vladimir Putin was shot dead in eastern Poland, and authorities have detained two Belarusian nationals as part of the investigation, Polish prosecutors said on Tuesday.
The victim was identified by local media as Robert Kuzovkov, a 44-year-old artist and performer who worked under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky. He was killed on Monday in the town of Biała Podlaska, near Poland’s border with Belarus, according to the district prosecutor’s office in Lublin. Prosecutors said five shots were fired, including one to the head.
Marcin Kozak, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, told a press briefing that two Belarusian citizens had been detained in connection with the case but had not been charged. Authorities said the motive remained under investigation and that no conclusions had been reached regarding who may have ordered or carried out the killing.
“The identity of the victim will be a key element of the investigation,” Kozak said, according to comments reported by Reuters. He confirmed that the victim had engaged in artistic activity that criticized the actions of the Russian authorities.
Investigators said the shooting appeared targeted. According to prosecutors, the assailant approached Kuzovkov and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Details about the attacker or attackers remain unclear.
Kuzovkov left Russia in 2021 and had been living in Poland after saying he feared political persecution, according to media reports and statements cited by prosecutors. He was known for satirical works depicting Russian political figures, including Putin, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Three days before his death, Kuzovkov traveled to Berlin for a protest held on Russia Day, where he displayed artwork featuring Putin and Stalin, according to the independent Russian news outlet Meduza, cited by prosecutors.
The killing comes as Polish authorities have repeatedly warned of espionage and sabotage threats linked to Russia and Belarus. Poland, a key transit hub for military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, has said it remains a target for hostile intelligence activities. Officials have not publicly linked the shooting to any foreign government.
Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesman for Poland’s special services minister, said the Internal Security Agency was working closely with police and prosecutors on the case. The Russian Embassy in Warsaw did not immediately comment, according to Reuters.
As of Tuesday evening, no charges had been filed, and the investigation remained ongoing. Prosecutors said additional information would be released as inquiries continue.
