Polish Prime Minister: Murder of Russian Artist Semyon Skreptskiy has Political Motivation
Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the murder in Poland of Russian artist Semyon Skreptskiy, known for political caricatures, was most likely motivated politically. The perpetrator, armed with a pistol, shot the artist three times, then twice more from close range.
Polish Prime Minister: Murder of Russian Artist Semyon Skreptskiy has Political Motivation
On Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the murder of Russian artist Semyon Skreptskiy, known for drawing political caricatures, was most likely politically motivated. The crime took place on Polish territory.
"All signs point to this being a political murder," Tusk said. "If the contract came from Russia, then this is also a very serious matter of international dimension."
On Monday morning, an unidentified man armed with a pistol shot Skreptskiy three times. When the artist fell to the ground, the assailant fired two more shots at him from close range.
The Polish government informed that it had previously offered Skreptskiy protection, which the artist declined.
In connection with the artist's death, two Belarusian citizens were detained, but they were later released. The investigation into the murder is continuing.
The case may further escalate tensions between Poland and Russia.
Semyon Skreptskiy, whose real name is Robert Kuzovkov, was born in 1981. Until 2021, he lived in the Altai region, from which he emigrated to Poland due to political persecution.
The artist created caricatures depicting the dictators of Russia and Belarus Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov and his son Adam, the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, and other well-known figures in Russia.
Navalny, whom Skreptskiy depicted in at least three caricatures, the artist called "the Kremlin's most successful project, which destroyed Russian opposition".
Skreptskiy also criticised Ukrainian authorities and was included in the Ukrainian online database "Mirotvorets". This database collects information on persons that its creators consider a threat to state security, territorial integrity, or Ukraine's sovereignty.
One of the artist's latest actions was a picket in Berlin on 12 June, on Russia's state holiday — Russia Day. Skreptskiy presented there a caricature depicting Stalin and Putin in a style resembling an icon.
Source: Apollo.lv
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)