Russian artist and Putin critic shot dead in Poland

bbc ^ | 06/16/2026 | Adam Easton,Warsaw correspondentandAmalia Zatari,BBC News Russian

[BenLurkin]

Police in Poland are investigating the murder of a Russian artist and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin.

Polish prosecutors said Robert K, known as the artist Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot dead on Monday morning in the Polish town of Biała Podlaska, about 40km (25 miles) from the Belarusian border.

The 44-year-old was shot five times in the head, chest and back in a car park in the town, located about 600m (2,000ft) from the Belarusian consulate.

Semyon Skrepetsky was the pseudonym used by Robert Kuzovkov. He was known for his caricatures of politicians, including Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Police have detained two Belarusian citizens, aged 33 and 37, near the Belarusian consulate in the town and their role in the incident is still being determined, says Marcin Kozak, spokesman for the district prosecutor's office in the eastern city of Lublin.

Skrepetsky was given asylum in Biała Podlaska, a small town with a population of less than 60,000, after he left Russia in 2021 fearing criminal prosecution.

Kozak said the artist was approached by an unidentified gunman who fired two shots at him.

"When the victim fell to the ground, the perpetrator approached, fired three more shots and then quickly fled the scene. Robert K died at the scene,"

Five shell casings and one Geco 9mm Luger bullet were recovered from the crime scene, Kozak said.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: calltodailyzeep; dailycalltoprayer; dailycalltozeep; polishbodycount; putinbodycount; zeepersarerinosdude

[Responsibility2nd]

The US had our Seth Rich. Russia had theirs.

I’m sure this was a totally random non political murder. Not orchestrated by Putin at all.

[Responsibility2nd]

I guess there were no windows conveniently available.

[Red Badger]

He should have moved to the US.........

[frank ballenger]

Two shots, then three more shots.
Cause of death: covid.

Oh, wait, different kind of shots.

[frank ballenger]

Two shots, then three more shots.
Cause of death: covid.

Oh, wait, different kind of shots.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

horrible :(

[fruser1]

You’re forgetting the rule - if the body tests positive for covid, the cause of death is covid.

[ComputerGuy]

That was one determined suicide, I must say.

[Red6]

Alright,

If you look at Hollywood and the music industry and start listing all the folks that get shot dead, commit suicide or die from drug over dose, you get a long list too (Just actors, NOT reporters, dissidents, etc):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_from_drug_overdose_and_intoxication

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Murdered_actors

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Actors_who_committed_suicide

Now lets bring in all the “accidents.” Was it really an accident? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_James_Dean He was a bad boy.

You know, even on the Russian side, many of these folks are weird and simply have a knack at getting themselves killed, one way or another with drug usage, the people they hang out with, other high risk behaviors: https://static.themoscowtimes.com/image/article_1360/4a/photo_2026-06-15-22478.jpg

I suspect Russia has bigger issues, and Putin has bigger concerns, than someone drawing a chicken scratch mean-spirited caricature of him viewed by 200 people.

Do I think the Russians have killed a lot of folks that get in their way? 100% In some cases, there is zero doubt who did it because the Russians WANTED everyone to know what happens if you break the rules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvinenko But these folks usually have some sort of real value and are causing some sort of real damage.

So do we, or our proxies, BTW: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/prominent-russian-blogger-assassinated-in-st-petersburg-bombing

But it's spiraled to the point where every drug overdose, every suicide, every murder, is now some secret FSB plot to assassinate someone who ever said something critical of Putin.

We're back to Russians hiding behind every tree.

[mac_truck]

There’s zero evidence Russia shot this guy.

[Beowulf9]

Looking at the guys art I would say a good Russian artist shot him.

and I can’t blame him.

[Who is John Galt?]

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Probably just an illegal. They do the same here.

[Beowulf9]

Why are you sending this to me? You hate me?

[PAR35]

Looks like a definite shortage of tall buildings in the city. Highest window someone might have fallen out of looked to be about 5th or 6th floor. Thus, I suppose, a need for the gun in the absence of any Polonium.

The Belarussian consulate mentioned in the story looks to be a single family residence.

[Organic Panic]

Clintoncide.