The Prosecutor's Office of Poland has initiated an investigation into the shooting death this Monday of Russian citizen Semion Skrepetski, an alias of a satirical cartoonist known for his activism against Russian President Vladimir Putin. For the moment, two Belarusian citizens have been arrested in connection with the case.
The incident occurred in Biala Podlaska, in the east of the country, and the initial lines of investigation point to a homicide perpetrated early Monday morning, when the victim was attacked at close range as he left his home.
The autopsy performed on the body has confirmed the presence of five entry and two exit bullet holes, located in the upper part of the chest and head, a direct consequence of the shots received.
"If someone approaches a person on the street and shoots, everything indicates that they planned to kill them. However, we still do not know the motives of the aggressor," a police spokesperson told the Polish channel TVN24.
As part of the investigation, two Belarusian citizens were arrested in the vicinity of the Belarusian consulate in Biala Podlaska. "The involvement of these two men and their relationship with this incident is being investigated," reported Marcin Kozak, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor's Office of Lublin, in statements collected by the Polish agency PAP.
The victim, a graphic creator openly opposed to Putin, had been residing in Poland since 2021. He had become known for his satirical cartoons highly critical of Russian leaders, whom he portrayed as corrupt and authoritarian. "He carried out artistic activities in which he expressed criticism of the current actions and decisions of the Russian authorities," stated the Prosecutor's Office spokesperson.
In recent months, he had participated in protests and cultural events in Berlin, the capital of Germany, with the aim of drawing the attention of Western public opinion to the war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.