Russian artist critical of Putin shot dead in Poland
New: two Belarusian nationals are detained, but the main gunman is still being hunted and the victim's family has been moved to safety.
Russian artist Semyon Skrepetsky was shot dead in Biala Podlaska, eastern Poland, on 15 June. Polish officials said the victim, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov, was shot three times by an armed man with a pistol; after falling, he was approached and shot twice more at close range. Prosecutors in Lublin opened a murder investigation, while police formed a special team and are still searching for the shooter. Two Belarusian nationals were detained near the Belarusian consulate in Biala Podlaska, but have not been charged. The Polish government said it had earlier offered Skrepetsky protection, but he declined. After the killing, his family was moved to a safe location. Bartosz Grodecki of Poland's National Security Bureau said the case could signal an escalation of Russian operations abroad if a political motive is confirmed.