Russian artist and critic of Putin and Chechen leader shot dead in ⁠Poland

Semyon Skrepetsky walks through central Berlin during Russia Day on 12 June, days before he was shot. Photograph: Vasily Krestyaninov/SOPA Images/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Semyon Skrepetsky walks through central Berlin during Russia Day on 12 June, days before he was shot. Photograph: Vasily Krestyaninov/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Russian artist and critic of Putin and Chechen leader shot dead in ⁠Poland Two Belarusians ⁠detained over attack on Robert ⁠Kuzovkov, who is also known as Semyon Skrepetsky A Russian artist critical of Vladimir Putin and the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been shot and killed in ⁠the eastern Polish town of Biała Podlaska, a prosecutor has said. Five shots were fired at the ⁠victim, including one ⁠to the head, in the attack on Monday, ​said Marcin Kozak, a spokesperson for the district prosecutor in Lublin. Two Belarusians ⁠have been detained but not charged in connection with the case, he added. Local media identified the victim as Robert ⁠Kuzovkov, who was also known by his artistic pseudonym, Semyon Skrepetsky, a Russian ​artist and performer known for ‌his criticism of the Russian ‌leader. Kozak confirmed that the victim ‌had been engaged in artistic activity in which he expressed criticism of the current actions of Russian authorities. The Belarusian opposition Telegram channel DzikMedia, citing unnamed sources, reported that an unidentified man had attempted to scale the fence of the country’s consulate in Biała Podlaska while fleeing police, but was apprehended. Three days before he was killed, Skrepetsky had travelled to Berlin on Russia Day, a 12 June holiday marking the country’s declaration of sovereignty before the ‌collapse of the Soviet Union, where he staged a protest with an icon-like caricature of Joseph Stalin and Putin, according ​to the Meduza news outlet. The identity of the victim would be a key element for the investigation, Kozak said. View image in fullscreen Police officers in eastern Poland search the scene of the shooting. Photograph: Wojtek Jargiło/EPA Poland says its role as a hub for military and other supplies to Ukraine has made ⁠it a target for Russian spies trying to gather information on ​support for Kyiv’s ​effort to repel Russia’s invasion, ​as well as engage in acts of sabotage. The Russian ​embassy in Warsaw ‌was not ​available for comment. ​Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesperson for Poland’s special services minister, said the Internal Security Agency had been cooperating closely with police and prosecutors on the matter. A relatively unknown figure in Russian émigré artistic circles, Skrepetsky was born in Russia’s Altai region and lived there until 2021, when he left for Poland citing fears of political persecution. He produced satirical caricatures of Putin, Kadyrov, the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Moscow has previously targeted critics abroad, but some Russian artists and commentators in exile said they b