Call to Action: Seeking Justice for the Murder of Political Cartoonist Semyon Skrepetsky
Russian political cartoonist and artist Semyon Skrepetsky was shot dead in Poland after years of criticizing war, authoritarianism, and political violence. This appeal calls on European institutions to ensure an independent investigation and to address the broader threats facing artists, journalists, and political exiles across Europe.
The killing of Semyon Skrepetsky raises questions that extend beyond a single criminal investigation. This article explains why Belarusian human rights organisation Our House has asked Members of the European Parliament to intervene, what concerns have been raised about prior threats and the publication of the artist’s personal information, and why the case has become part of a wider debate on the protection of artists, journalists, activists, and political exiles living in the European Union. It also outlines the specific actions requested from European and national authorities.
Dear Member of the European Parliament Mr Arba KOKALARI
We are writing on behalf of Our House (Nash Dom), a Belarusian human rights organisation operating in exile in Lithuania.
For many years, Our House has worked to protect human rights, support civil society actors at risk, and document cases of political persecution affecting activists, journalists, conscientious objectors, migrants, refugees, artists, and cultural workers from authoritarian contexts. Together with our partners from August Cultural Media Lab, we also work with artists and cultural practitioners in exile, including those who have experienced censorship, forced displacement, threats, and political pressure because of their artistic or civic expression.
We are reaching out to you with an urgent request to pay attention to the killing of Russian artist, political cartoonist, and political émigré Semyon Skrepetsky, also known as Robert Kuzovkov, who was shot dead on 15 June 2026 in Biała Podlaska, Poland.
Additional information about the case is available here:
Semyon Skrepetsky was known for his satirical and political cartoons criticizing war, authoritarianism, militarism, political violence, corruption, and human rights abuses. His work represented an independent artistic voice and formed part of the broader tradition of political satire and public criticism that remains essential to democratic societies.
His murder raises concerns that extend far beyond an individual criminal case. It concerns the safety of artists, journalists, activists, human rights defenders, political refugees, migrants, and political émigrés living within the European Union, particularly those who continue to speak publicly against war, authoritarianism, political violence, and abuses of power.
According to publicly available information, Semyon Skrepetsky had reportedly received threats prior to his death. It has also been reported that the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets had previously included him on its list of so-called “enemies” and published information about his place of residence in Poland following his criticism of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several political actors in Ukraine.
At present, we are not aware of any publicly available evidence linking the Myrotvorets website to the murder itself, and we believe that any such conclusions must be established exclusively through a professional and independent investigation. However, the publication of personal data and residential information of artists, journalists, and political émigrés creates serious security risks and requires legal, political, and human rights assessment regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Particularly alarming is the fact that after Semyon Skrepetsky’s death, his profile on the Myrotvorets website was reportedly marked as “liquidated.” Regardless of who is ultimately responsible for the killing, such language in relation to a murdered artist raises serious concerns regarding the normalization of political violence and the climate of hostility facing individuals engaged in public criticism and artistic expression.
The link: https://myrotvorets.center/criminal/?cf%5Bname%5D=Роберт+Кузовков
We respectfully ask you to consider taking action in relation to this case.
In particular, we ask you to:
- Raise this case with the Polish authorities and call for a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation into the killing of Semyon Skrepetsky.
- Request information from the Polish authorities regarding the current status of the investigation and whether all possible motives, including threats connected to his artistic work, public activities, political views, publication of personal data, online targeting, and his status as a political émigré, are being fully examined.
- Encourage the Polish authorities to ensure that all those responsible are identified and brought to justice, including not only any direct perpetrators but also any possible organisers, instigators, accomplices, or individuals who may have facilitated the crime.
- Raise concerns with the competent Ukrainian authorities regarding the publication of Semyon Skrepetsky’s personal data and residential information on the Myrotvorets website and request an assessment of whether such publication created additional risks to his safety.
- Encourage the competent Ukrainian authorities to assess whether the practice of listing artists, journalists, activists, human rights defenders, migrants, refugees, and political émigrés as “enemies” on publicly accessible databases is compatible with European and international human rights standards, including the rights to life, privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from threats and intimidation.
- Request clarification regarding the reported designation of Semyon Skrepetsky as “liquidated” following his death and whether such terminology may contribute to the glorification, justification, or normalization of violence against public critics.
- Raise this case with the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and other relevant institutions concerned with human rights, freedom of expression, and the protection of individuals at risk.
- Support discussion within the European Parliament on the growing risks posed by doxxing, publication of personal data, public enemy lists, online targeting, and transnational intimidation directed against artists, journalists, activists, human rights defenders, refugees, migrants, and political exiles residing in the European Union.
We believe this case should not be viewed solely as an isolated criminal incident. It should also be examined within the broader context of transnational repression, political hostility, online targeting, and the vulnerability of artists and public critics living in exile.
This tragedy highlights a wider problem that remains insufficiently addressed. Artists and cultural workers from Belarus, Russia, and other authoritarian environments often continue to face threats after arriving in Europe. Many remain visible public figures, continue their professional and civic activities, and consequently remain exposed to intimidation, harassment, public targeting, and security risks. Existing protection mechanisms frequently prove inadequate for addressing these challenges.
The European Union has consistently affirmed its commitment to freedom of expression, artistic freedom, the protection of human rights defenders, the safety of journalists, and the protection of refugees and migrants. These commitments require practical implementation when individuals at risk become victims of violence on European territory.
We also hope that this case can contribute to a broader European discussion regarding the protection of artists, cultural workers, journalists, activists, and political exiles. Our House stands ready to provide documentation, public sources, analysis, contacts, and expertise that may be useful for parliamentary initiatives, written questions, briefings, hearings, or other actions aimed at strengthening protection mechanisms for vulnerable individuals living in exile.
The murder of an artist known for criticizing war, authoritarianism, and political violence must not pass unnoticed. We respectfully ask for your attention, your engagement, and your support in ensuring that this case receives the scrutiny and accountability it deserves.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Olga Karach & Siarhei Sparysh
Our House (Nash Dom)
Belarusian Human Rights Organisation in Exile, Lithuania
+37060765718 (WhatsApp/Signal)
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