Russian dissident artist Semyon Skrepezki murdered in Poland
Skrepezki was known for his scathing caricatures of Russian President Vladimir Putin. His suspected killer has been apprehended. Semyon Skrepezki was shot dead near his
Skrepezki was known for his scathing caricatures of Russian President Vladimir Putin. His suspected killer has been apprehended. Semyon Skrepezki was shot dead near his Biala Podlaska apartment on June 15 around 9:50 a.m., according to the Lublin prosecutor's office. Three of the five shots were fired after Skrepezki had already collapsed on the ground. He died at the scene. The perpetrator fled but was apprehended three days later. Five shell casings and a nine millimeter Luger bullet were found at the crime scene. This is the same ammunition that was used in the 2019 killing of Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin. Maxim Kusminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine, was also shot and killed with a weapon of the same caliber in 2024, reports independent Russian news outlet Agentstwo. A politically motivated murder? Skrepezki's suspected killer was arrested near the Polish capital Warsaw, according to a statement posted by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X on June 18. The suspect was using a Georgian passport, according to Tusk and the Polish prosector's office. Polish authorities are now working to identify the person who orchestrated Skrepezki's murder, Tusk added. Speaking at a press conference on the previous day, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the murder bore all the hallmarks of a political assassination.
Yet he also said further evidence and leads were required before reaching any conclusions. He stated that if the killing proved to be Russian-orchestrated, it would constitute a very serious incident of international significance, equating to "state terrorism." Polish media outlets have described Skrepezki as an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and speculated whether his murder could have been a contract killing. "It looked like an execution," one official familiar with the case told Polish news portal Onet. Belarusian performance artist Vlad Bokhan, who was in contact with Skrepezki shortly before his death, also believes his killing may have been politically motivated. Bokhan told DW the killing likely served two purposes, namely to "eliminate a person, and to intimidate." The murder "sends a message to those who engage in similar activities," the artist added. Berlin protest Skrepezki war born in Russia in 1981 as Robert Kuzovkov. He lived in Siberia's Altai region until 2021, after which he fled to Poland out of fear of political persecution where he was granted protected status. He was best known for his political cartoons, including depictions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
The BriefWire