Suspect arrested in killing of Russian artist critical of Putin
Polish police have arrested a man holding a Georgian passport, suspected of involvement in the murder of Russian artist Semion Skripetsky.
Suspect arrested in killing of Russian artist critical of Putin
Polish police have arrested a man suspected of complicity in the murder of a Russian artist known for his criticism of Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Thursday.
The detainee is using a Georgian passport, D. Tusk wrote on social media platform X. He added that the authorities are working to identify the person who commissioned the crime.
On Monday, a 44-year-old Russian artist known for his caricatures of the Russian president was shot dead in eastern Poland. According to Prime Minister Tusk's statement, the murder was most likely politically motivated.
"All the evidence suggests that this is a political assassination," D. Tusk said of the death of Semion Skripetsky, whose real name is Robert Kuzowkow. "If Russia is the person who commissioned it, then this is also a very serious matter of international scope."
According to Polish authorities' account, on Monday morning an unknown perpetrator fired three shots at S. Skripetsky. When the artist fell to the ground, the attacker approached him and fired two more times from close range.
The Polish government had offered S. Skripetsky protection, but the artist declined to accept it.
Two Belarusian citizens were previously detained in connection with the artist's death, but according to the authorities, they have since been released.
Source: LRT