RUSSIAN ARTIST SHOT DEAD IN POLAND AFTER CRITICISING PUTIN

Semyon Skrepetsky, a Russian artist living in exile, was shot dead in Biała Podlaska, Poland, following his public criticism of Vladimir Putin. Skrepetsky, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov, died from gunshot wounds inflicted at close range. Bystanders attempted resuscitation, but medical personnel were unable to save his life. Polish police have launched an investigation into the killing and are treating it as a planned assassination.

Skrepetsky created satirical artwork depicting Putin as a cruel dictator and also ridiculed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Three days before his death, he staged a protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, during which he removed a Russian flag from his clothing and discarded it in a waste bin. He subsequently protested outside the same embassy whilst carrying a painting depicting Joseph Stalin holding an infant Putin. Before his death, Skrepetsky reported having received threatening messages from individuals identifying as pro-Putin Russians.

Polish police spokesman Andrzej Fijołek confirmed officers had established the identity of the deceased and stated they were pursuing all leads to apprehend the perpetrator. One taxi driver is currently being questioned, believed to have transported possible suspects from Warsaw. Police are investigating whether the killer changed clothes after the shooting. The incident bears similarities to political executions previously documented in Russia.