Russian satirist who mocked Putin and Kadyrov shot dead in Poland
Russian artist and satirist Semyon Skrepetsky (real name believed to be Robert Kuzovkov) was shot dead in Biała Podlaska, Poland, near the Belarusian border. Two Belarusian nationals have been detained, but the direct perpetrator remains at large.
Polish authorities are investigating the murder of 44-year-old Russian citizen Semyon Skrepetsky, who was shot dead on June 15 in a parking lot in Biała Podlaska, a city several dozen kilometers from the Belarusian border. The attacker shot him multiple times at close range and then fired once more after he had fallen to the ground before fleeing. Police confirmed they had identified the victim but declined to release his name, only stating he was a 44-year-old Russian citizen.
According to Polish media, two Belarusian nationals have been detained in connection with the murder. Unofficial reports suggest several people may have been involved. One suspect was detained outside the Belarusian consulate general in Biała Podlaska after attempting to climb the fence onto the consulate grounds. The Belarusian opposition Telegram channel DzikMedia, citing sources, identified the man as a Belarusian taxi driver who had transported the people believed to have carried out the killing from Warsaw, reportedly unaware of their plans. Radio station RMF FM reported that the direct perpetrator has not yet been found. Skrepetsky's wife and four children have been placed under police protection.
Skrepetsky was a satirist known for caricatures of Russian and Belarusian officials, including Vladimir Putin and Ramzan Kadyrov. He left Russia for Poland in 2021 fearing persecution. He was also critical of the Russian opposition and Ukrainian authorities. In Ukraine, he was listed in the “Myrotvorets” database for his Telegram channel allegedly fostering negative attitudes toward Ukraine.
Days before his death, Skrepetsky had staged a protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin and had been receiving threats. On June 12, he brought a painting depicting Putin in Stalin's arms to the embassy, wearing a jacket adorned with medals and a Russian flag protruding from a hole in his trousers. Hours before his death, he posted negative comments and threats he had received after the protest on his Telegram channel.
Polish media are calling Skrepetsky’s murder a “political execution.” RMF FM noted the shooter fired multiple times at close range and then shot again after the victim fell. wPolsce24 published commentary from Polish journalists writing about “Putin’s hired killers” and foreign intelligence services hunting down “the wrong kind of Russians.” Polish law enforcement has not officially put forward any theory of the murder.
