Polish authorities have launched a murder investigation after a Russian dissident artist was gunned down near the Belarusian border.
A Russian artist and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin has been shot dead in eastern Poland in what investigators describe as an execution-style killing.
The victim, identified as Robert Kuzovkov, was widely known by his artistic pseudonym, Semyon Skrepetsky. Prosecutors said the 44-year-old was shot five times on Monday in a car park in the city of Biała Podlaska.
According to investigators, an unidentified gunman approached Kuzovkov, fired two shots, and then shot him three more times after he fell to the ground. He died at the scene.
Police recovered five shell casings and a 9mm bullet from the area. An autopsy has been scheduled as part of the ongoing investigation.
Skrepetsky was known for his political caricatures targeting Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. He had reportedly lived in Biała Podlaska since 2021 after relocating to Poland.
Authorities have detained two Belarusian citizens, aged 33 and 37, near the Belarusian consulate in the city. Prosecutors said their connection to the killing is still being investigated.
The artist recently attended a Russia Day protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, where he displayed artwork critical of the Kremlin.
Polish investigators say efforts are ongoing to identify the gunman and establish the motive behind the killing.
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