Russian artist Robert Kuzovkov, known by his pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot dead in the eastern Polish town of Biała Podlaska. Five shots were fired, including one to the head, in the parking lot of an apartment building. Two Belarusian nationals have been detained but not yet charged, with one suspect arrested near the Belarusian Consulate. Kuzovkov, a performer and painter living in Poland since 2021, was known for satirical portraits of Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, and Ramzan Kadyrov. He had just returned from Berlin, where he staged a performance protest outside the Russian embassy holding a painting of Josef Stalin cuddling a baby-like Putin. Hours before his death, he posted screenshots of threats he received on his Telegram channel.
The killing bears the hallmarks of an assassination, raising serious concerns about the targeting of dissident artists abroad. Kuzovkov's murder highlights the extreme risks faced by artists who openly criticize authoritarian regimes, particularly Russia and its allies. The incident also underscores the dangerous environment for exiled Russian opposition figures in Eastern Europe, where state-linked violence may extend beyond national borders. The case has drawn international attention to the vulnerability of politically engaged artists and the chilling effect such attacks have on free expression.