20:06, 18 June 2026

Sources identified the man detained in the Skrepetsky murder case as a Chechen.

The Georgian passport used by the man detained in the murder of artist Robert Kuzovkov (Semyon Skrepetsky) is fake, and the man himself is Chechen, a Polish publication reported, citing sources in the security forces.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, the works of artist Robert Kuzovkov (Semyon Skrepetsky), who was murdered in Poland, are virtually unknown in Chechnya, but the republic's authorities may have perceived them as offensive and used his murder as a message to other Kadyrov critics in Europe. Skrepetsky actively drew caricatures of political figures, including Ramzan Kadyrov, his son Adam, and Akhmat commander Apti Alaudinov. And shortly before his murder, on June 14, he commented on his Telegram channel on the re-assignment of the title Hero of Chechnya to Adam Kadyrov, publishing one of his paintings – in it, the Kadyrovs, father and son, are depicted with pig snouts, ears, and hooves. Two Belarusian citizens were detained in connection with the case, but they were released. Today, it was reported that a man using a Georgian passport had been detained.

On June 16, it was reported that Russian artist Robert Kuzovkov, known under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, who drew caricatures of Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin, was shot dead by unknown assailants in the Polish city of Biala Podlaska. Social media users commented on the murder of the artist who drew the caricatures of Kadyrov, noting that the death of the artist has only heightened interest in his work and given new resonance to the themes he touched on in his work. Friends of the artist are certain that the murder was politically motivated; the prosecutor's office has announced several theories, but has not disclosed them. The artist harshly ridiculed not only the authorities of Russia, Belarus, and Chechnya, but also Ukraine and the Russian opposition in his paintings and publications.

The Georgian passport used by the man detained in the murder of Robert Kuzovkov, a cartoonist working under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, is highly likely fake, as the details do not match. According to preliminary information, the detainee is a Chechen, Onet.pl reported today, citing sources in the security forces.

The publication reported details of the arrest. Security forces detained the man in Piastów, near Warsaw, at a Georgian restaurant. "The man didn't resist. He also didn't try to escape. He likely didn't have time to react," the publication states.

Caucasian Knot reader barrett is certain that the cartoonist's murder was a contract killing. "If a person actively ridiculed politicians of various levels, made caricatures of them, posted videos, etc., then it's clear they weren't killed without reason. Furthermore, it's indicated that he was shot several times at close range, and then a finishing shot, or so-called "control shot," was fired. This means it's likely a professional killer, not some ordinary citizen who bought or procured a gun and went to kill an artist. The immediate question is, who did this, or rather, organized it, besides...?" he asked, without naming a name.

"Caucasian Knot" has compiled stories of the elimination of Ramzan Kadyrov's opponents in the EU in the fact sheet "Murders of Kadyrov's Critics in the European Union".

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/424219