Suspect arrested for murder of Russian Putin critic in Biała Podlaska
Polish police have arrested a 36-year-old man carrying a Georgian passport in connection with the killing of Semion Skripeckiy, a critic of Putin and Kadyrov.
Suspect arrested for murder of Russian Putin critic in Biała Podlaska
A 36-year-old man using a Georgian passport was arrested on Thursday morning at a hostel near Warsaw in connection with the murder of Russian citizen Semion Skripeckiy. The arrest came after Skripeckiy was shot dead on Monday in a car park near the Belarusian consulate in Biała Podlaska.
The suspect, according to Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński, has links to organised crime. "We are dealing with a person linked to organised crime, who may have been involved in crimes in 2022," Kierwiński announced at Thursday's press conference. Minister coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak attended the briefing alongside him.
Skripeckiy in his public activities criticised numerous persons abroad. Polish security services had repeatedly warned him of potential threats and offered protection during his stay in Poland. "The Internal Security Agency and police repeatedly approached him, signalling that he was at risk and should be protected during his stay in Poland. However, he did not take up this offer of protection," Siemoniak explained.
According to Siemoniak, investigators are working on the hypothesis that Russian special services may have been behind the murder order. "The hypothesis about who might be behind this is quite obvious and stems from the activity of the murdered Russian citizen. He was a critic of Putin and Kadyrov and that was his main activity," the minister said.
The minister noted that similar contract killings had occurred in recent years in other European countries, with traces of their origin pointing to Russia. The prosecutor's office, however, has not ruled out other motives for now.
The perpetrator shot the man several times from close range. Despite resuscitation attempts, he could not be saved. "It looked like an execution. Several shots at close range and one to finish him off," a police officer familiar with the details of the case told the Onet portal.
Source: TA3
Source: Google News SK — Crime (sk)