SUSPECT HELD IN POLAND FOR ALLEGED ROLE IN PUTIN CRITIC’S DEATH

Polish authorities have arrested a man suspected of involvement in the killing of a Russian artist and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Thursday.

According to Tusk, the suspect was detained while carrying a Georgian passport. He added that security agencies are continuing investigations to identify those who may have ordered the killing.

The victim, Semyon Skrepetsky, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov, was shot dead on Monday in the eastern Polish city of Biala Podlaska. Officials said an unidentified gunman fired three shots at the artist before approaching him and shooting him twice more at close range after he fell to the ground.

Tusk had earlier described the incident as a likely political assassination, noting that if evidence points to Russian involvement, the case could have significant international implications.

The Polish government disclosed that Skrepetsky had previously been offered state protection, but he declined the security arrangement.

Investigators initially detained two Belarusian nationals in connection with the case, but both were later released after questioning.

Skrepetsky was widely known for his provocative political cartoons and caricatures targeting prominent Russian figures, including President Putin, former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Among his most notable works was a controversial reinterpretation of a traditional Orthodox icon, portraying Stalin holding Putin in place of the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Jesus.

The artist relocated to Poland in 2021, citing fears of political persecution in Russia. While living in exile, he remained active in opposition circles and continued to voice criticism of both the Kremlin and elements of the Russian opposition movement.

His death comes amid a series of attacks on critics of the Russian government abroad, with similar incidents reported in countries including Britain, Germany, and Lithuania.