Russian artist and Putin critic Robert Kuzovkov shot dead in Poland; two Belarusian men in custody

Jun 16, 2026

Russian artist and Kremlin critic Robert Kuzovkov, 44, was shot and killed in Poland. Two Belarusian men, 33 and 37, are in custody after being arrested near the Belarusian consulate. Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky, created satirical art mocking Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The assassination occurs amid a pattern of attacks on Russian dissidents in Europe.

Kuzovkov assassination in Poland

▪The shooting occurred around 9:45 a.m. in Biala Podlaska, a city about 40km (25 miles) from the Belarusian border.
▪Kuzovkov was shot five times at close range in the head, chest, and back in a car park near his home.
▪Five shell casings and one Geco 9mm Luger bullet were recovered from the crime scene.
▪Robert Kuzovkov, a 44-year-old Russian artist and Kremlin critic, was shot and killed in Biala Podlaska, Poland, on June 15, 2026.

Belarusian suspects in custody

▪The two men were arrested near the Belarusian Consulate in the town of Biala Podlaska.
▪Two Belarusian citizens, aged 33 and 37, have been detained in connection with the killing.
▪Polish prosecutors are still determining the role of the two detained men in the incident.

Kuzovkov's anti-Putin activism

▪Some Russian commentators in exile believe the killing bears the hallmarks of an operation ordered by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
▪His satirical work included caricatures of Vladimir Putin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
▪Using the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, Kuzovkov created art that criticized the policies of Russian authorities.
▪Kuzovkov left Russia for Poland in 2021 fearing political persecution and was granted asylum.
▪One painting depicted Vladimir Putin being cradled by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, while another showed Ramzan Kadyrov with a pig's snout.
▪Days before his death, Kuzovkov protested in Berlin on Russia Day, June 12, where he threw a Russian flag in a trash can.
▪A friend, Bulat Subkhankulov, said he had repeatedly warned Kuzovkov to be careful, calling him "completely reckless and stubborn."

Russia-Belarus alliance context

▪Russia has been accused of trying to assassinate its opponents abroad since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
▪Poland's role as a military and supply hub for Ukraine has made it a target for Russian spies and sabotage operations.
▪In 2024, Polish authorities arrested a man for an alleged plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.