Russian artist and critic of Putin shot dead in Poland

By Adam Easton and Amalia Zatari, Warsaw correspondent, BBC News Russian

Polish police are investigating the murder of Russian caricaturist Robert Kuzovkov, who adopted the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky and was known for his scathing political cartoons.

The 44‑year‑old was shot on Monday morning in the city of Biała Podlaska, a town about 40 km (25 miles) from the Belarusian border. The attack took place in a car park near the Belarusian consulate.

Witness accounts say he was struck five times – in the head, chest and back – and died at the scene. Three shots were fired after he fell, according to prosecutor spokesman Marcin Kozak, who also noted that five shell casings and one 9mm bullet were recovered.

Kuzovkov had fled Russia in 2021 after fearing prosecution for his criticism of the Kremlin, and was granted asylum in Biała Podlaska. He was known for satirical portraits of Vladimir Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen chief Ramzan Kadyrov.

Polish authorities detained two Belarusian citizens near the consulate; investigators are still determining whether they were involved in the killing. Cipher questions surrounding potential state‑sponsored motives remain open.

Skrepetsky’s cartoons, often posted on Telegram and YouTube, mocked Putin as Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, Lukashenko as Adolf Hitler and portrayed his rival, Chechen leader Kadyrov, with de‑humanising imagery. He also ridiculed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and ordinary Ukrainians.

Beside the bullet hole, police found a picture of a caricature of Putin under a Soviet flag that the artist had carried to a “Russia Day” protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin the night before his death.

The artist was survived in Poland by his wife and five children.

Video of the night before the killing shows Skrepetsky holding a painting that portrays Putin and Joseph Stalin, and a Russian flag tucked under his trousers.

A post‑mortem examination is scheduled for Wednesday while investigations continue.