Russian Artist Critical of Kremlin Killed in Poland
Robert Kuzovkov, a Russian artist known for his sharp criticism of the Kremlin under the pseudonym Semjon Skrepetskis, was shot dead in Poland. He was hit five times in the head, chest, and back near the Belarusian consulate.
Polish police are investigating the murder of Robert Kuzovkov, a Russian artist and outspoken critic of the Kremlin, who used the pseudonym Semjon Skrepetskis. The 44-year-old was shot on the morning of June 16 in Biała Podlaska, a town about 40 kilometers from the Polish-Belarusian border.
The attack occurred in a parking lot roughly 600 meters from the Belarusian consulate. According to prosecutor Marcin Kozak, an unidentified shooter approached Kuzovkov and fired two shots. After the victim fell, the attacker moved closer, fired three more times, and fled. Investigators found five shell casings and one 9mm Luger bullet at the scene.
Kuzovkov was known for political caricatures mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. His works depicted Putin in the arms of Joseph Stalin, Lukashenko as Adolf Hitler holding a potato bucket, and Kadyrov with his son both sporting pig snouts. He also satirized Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Ukrainian citizens.
In 2021, fearing prosecution in Russia, Kuzovkov left the country and was granted asylum in Biała Podlaska. His home address was easily accessible online, and he shared his work on Telegram and YouTube. The day before his death, a video showed him protesting outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, holding a painting caricaturing Putin, with a Russian flag attached to his pants trailing on the ground.
Police have detained two Belarusian citizens near the scene; their involvement is under investigation. Kuzovkov's friend Bulat Subhankulov told the BBC that he had repeatedly warned him about the dangers, but the artist was reckless and stubborn. Kuzovkov is survived by his wife and five children living in Poland.
