Russian artist who mocked Putin warned about threats on Telegram. Hours later, gunman shot him three times in Poland

Jun 16, 2026 - 17:10

Russian opposition artist Robert Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky. FB

Russian opposition artist Robert Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky, 44, was shot dead in Poland, per Euronews. Polish prosecutors have detained two Belarusian nationals, with no charges yet brought as investigators determine the detainees' connection to the killing.

Skrepetsky reported on Telegram hours before his death that he was receiving threats from "Russian patriots" following his 12 June protest action at the Russian embassy in Berlin.

Polish prosecutor Marcin Kozak has confirmed that an unidentified man approached Skrepetsky and fired three shots from a handgun, then approached the fallen victim and fired two more shots at close range, per TVP World.

A preliminary examination found five gunshot wounds, including injuries to the chest and head. After the murder, two Belarusian nationals aged 33 and 37 were detained in Biała Podlaska, Kozak said.

Polish prosecutors detain two Belarusians as investigation continues

Polish police launched a manhunt immediately after the killing, with roadblocks established on city exits and vehicle checks across the city. Biała Podlaska mayor Michał Litwiniuk announced that municipal police were patrolling schools, daycares, and kindergartens, and that parents must personally collect their children after classes.

Skrepetsky's satirical art targets Putin, Stalin, and the Russian opposition

Skrepetsky, a native of Russia's Altai Republic, left Russia in 2021, citing fears of political persecution, per CBS News, and had lived in Biała Podlaska since arriving in Poland. His satirical work targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenka, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, as well as Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

One of his best-known works depicted Stalin cradling a baby Putin in the composition of a classical Orthodox icon, according to UkrInform. On 12 June, Skrepetsky staged a solo protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, wearing a ushanka and a military jacket adorned with medals, holding the Stalin-Putin "icon," and pulling a Russian flag from his trousers to throw it into a trash bin.