Polish authorities have taken a Georgian national into custody over the fatal sh00ting of Russian anti-Putin artist and satirist Semyon Skrepetsky, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov.
The suspect was arrested by officers of the Polish Police and the Internal Security Agency (ABW) after the att@ck, which occurred on Monday in the eastern Polish city of Biała Podlaska, close to the Belarusian border.
Confirming the arrest on Thursday, June 18, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: “A man suspected of involvement in the mu√der of a Russian man in Biała Podlaska has been detained by Lublin police and the Internal Security Agency (ABW). He is using a Georgian passport. Authorities are working to identify [who ordered the k!lling].”
Kuzovkov, who was widely known for his political cartoons and satirical works aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, was reportedly sh0t multiple times in the head and chest while walking his dog near his residence. Witnesses said the a$$ailant approached him in broad daylight, opened fire, and then fled the area.
Polish investigators are examining the motive for the k!lling, with Tusk indicating that political factors may be involved.
Speaking on Wednesday, the prime minister said the circumstances surrounding the sh00ting resembled a political a$$assination and cautioned that if investigations revealed the att@ck had been ordered from Moscow, it would amount to a major international incident. “If the k!lling was committed on orders from Moscow, then we are dealing with a very serious incident of international dimension,” Tusk said.
He further stated: “This is state terr0rism.” Authorities are continuing their investigation to establish whether the suspect acted independently and to identify anyone who may have orchestrated the attack.