Killing of Russian artist who criticised Putin has hallmarks of 'political murder', says Polish PM

The killing of a Russian artist who was critical of Vladimir Putin has the hallmarks of a "political murder", according to Poland's prime minister.

Robert Kuzovkov, known by the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot and killed at close range near his home in the eastern Polish city of Biala Podlaska on Monday, prosecutors said.

"Everything points to this being a political murder," said PM Donald Tusk at a news briefing in Warsaw.

"But we must wait for evidence or more concrete indications, because if that was the case - if it was ordered by Russia - then it is an extremely serious matter internationally. It would constitute state terrorism."

Mr Kuzovkov "expressed criticism of the current policies of the Russian authorities", Polish prosecutors said.

He painted unflattering portraits of Mr Putin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and other high-ranking Russian officials. One depicts Mr Putin being cradled in the arms of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator.

He posted a video online on Sunday showing him in Berlin putting a Russian flag in a bin on 12 June, the holiday which marks Russia's sovereignty.

Mr Kuzovkov was approached near his home by an unidentified man who fired two shots at him, then shot him three more times at close range before fleeing, prosecutors said.

The victim died at the scene of gunshot wounds to the head, chest and back, prosecutors added.

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Polish investigators initially detained two Belarusian citizens, but Mr Tusk added that they had been released because authorities had no evidence that they were directly involved in the killing.

"The case is difficult. If there's a hired killer involved, it's unfortunately not easy to identify such a person," Mr Tusk said, adding that Mr Kuzovkov had been offered protection by Polish authorities, but he had refused it.

Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been accused of trying to assassinate dissidents abroad.

(c) Sky News 2026: Killing of Russian artist who criticised Putin has hallmarks of 'political murder', says Polish PM