Ally of Putin critic Navalny, Leonid Volkov, reportedly attacked in Lithuania

Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was attacked outside his home in Lithuania. Volkov was assaulted with a hammer and tear gas while in his car in Vilnius on Tuesday night, as reported by BBC.

The alleged assailant remains unknown, and the motive behind the attack is still unclear. The Lithuanian Police have been informed of the incident and are currently investigating, according to Reuters.

Ivan Zhdanov, another member of Navalny’s team, shared pictures on social media showing Volkov with injuries. Zhdanov mentioned that the attack happened in silence and emphasized that it was a clear political attack, leaving no room for doubt.

Volkov, who has lived outside Russia for his safety for several years, had served as Navalny’s Chief-of-Staff until Navalny’s sudden death in prison last month. Despite facing politically motivated charges in Russia, Volkov has continued the activism of Navalny and his team from abroad.

Navalny’s entire political organization was declared “extremist” and banned in Russia in 2021, leading to many activists joining Volkov abroad. With presidential elections looming, Navalny’s widow has called for peaceful political protests at polling stations across Russia in opposition to Vladimir Putin, a move originally supported by Navalny himself before his demise.