Polish PM calls Putin critic's shooting a political assassination
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Polish PM calls Putin critic's shooting a political assassination
Russian satirical artist critical of Putin shot dead in Poland
ContinuationRussian exile artist critical of Putin shot dead in Poland
The fatal shooting of Russian artist Semyon Skrepetsky in eastern Poland on Monday was almost certainly a political assassination, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, raising the prospect of state involvement from Russia.
Speaking to reporters in Warsaw, Tusk described the killing of the 44-year-old Kremlin critic—known for his biting caricatures of President Vladimir Putin—as “political murder.” “All indications are that this is a political murder,” he said. “If it was commissioned by Russia, then this is also a very serious matter with an international dimension.”
Skrepetsky, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov, was shot five times at close range in Biała Podlaska on Monday morning, including once to the head. Polish authorities have already confirmed the killing was deliberate and treated it as a matter of national security. A Belarusian national was detained in connection with the murder, though Polish officials have not disclosed further details.
Tusk’s remarks came amid growing suspicion that the killing may have been orchestrated from abroad. While he did not provide concrete evidence linking Moscow directly to the assassination, he suggested that state involvement would constitute an act of “state terrorism.” “The Auftraggeber of crimes against Kremlin critics abroad often remain in the shadows,” he said. “But if this was ordered by Russia, it is an extremely serious matter internationally.”
The artist had lived in exile in Poland since 2021, where he continued to produce provocative works targeting Putin and other Russian officials. His death follows a pattern of targeted killings of Kremlin critics abroad, including the 2022 murder of a businessman and politician in St. Petersburg, which recently led to the arrest of businessman Ilya Traber, a figure with reported ties to Putin.
International reactions have been swift. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the killing as an “unacceptable attack on freedom of expression,” while the European Union’s foreign policy chief called for a full investigation. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as “groundless speculation,” insisting that Russia had no involvement in the case.
Poland has vowed to pursue all leads, with Tusk warning that the killing “cannot go unanswered.” Security analysts suggest the assassination may signal a new phase in Russia’s efforts to silence dissent beyond its borders, raising concerns about the safety of exiled critics across Europe.
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Articles
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Shooting of Russian artist critical of Putin in Poland likely political murder: Tusk The fatal shooting in eastern Poland of a Russian artist known for his caricatures of Russian President Vladimir Putin was likely politically motivated, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday. All indications are that this is a political murder, Tusk said of the killing of Semyon Skrepetsky, whose real name is Robert Kuzovkov. If it was commissioned by Russia, then this is also a very serious matter with an international dimension. According to Polish officials, Skrepetsky was...
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