Russian Artist Shot Dead in Poland in Suspected Targeted Killing

Semyon Scripetsky, a 44-year-old Russian artist and activist known for mocking Vladimir Putin, was shot dead in broad daylight on Monday in Biała Podlaska, eastern Poland, near the Belarus border. He had fled Russia in 2021 out of fear of political persecution and had been living in Poland with his family.

Scripetsky became known for satirical works that mocked Putin, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and even Joseph Stalin. Last week he appeared at a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin with a provocative display showing Stalin “feeding” baby Putin, while a Russian flag was tied to the figure’s trousers. In another incident, he was filmed sweeping the street with a Russian flag and throwing it into a trash bin.

Police said an unknown man approached him near the city center and fired at close range. A local police spokesman said, “all indications are that they planned to kill him.” Witnesses and Polish media described the attack as resembling an “execution.” Initial reports said a Belarusian taxi driver was detained near the Belarusian consulate on suspicion of transporting the killers, but police have not officially confirmed the suspects’ identities.

The killing comes amid Lithuanian police warnings about a network of hired assassins linked to Russian intelligence services operating across Europe to eliminate opposition activists and regime critics. The manhunt for the shooters is ongoing, and Polish authorities have increased alert levels in the area.