A Russian artist known for satirising President Vladimir Putin was shot dead in Poland, officials said on Tuesday.
Local media identified the โvictim of Monday’s attack as Robert Kuzovkov, also known under his artistic pseudonym โas Semyon Skrepetsky.
The district โ prosecutor in โ Lublin said threeย gunshots were fired at the victim on Monday.
When the victim fell to the ground, he was approached by the assailant, who fired two more shots at close range.
Two Belarusian nationals have been detained, but not charged, in connection with the case, the spokesperson added.
Who was Semyon Skrepetsky?
Skrepetsky was a visual artist who made a name for himself with his provocative caricatures of Putin, as well as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Soviet leader Josef Stalin.
But he also directed his satire toward the Russian opposition, including with caricatures of Alexei Navalny.
Born in a village in Russia’s Altai Republic, Skrepetsky had been living in exile in Poland since 2021.
Three days before he was killed, the artist had travelled to Berlin on Russia day.
In Berlin, he staged a protest outside the Russian embassy holding an icon-like caricature of both Stalin and Putin.
Edited by: Rana Taha