Vilnius, Lithuania – A top aide to the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, Leonid Volkov, was brutally attacked near his home in the capital city of Vilnius. The assault, carried out with a hammer, was deemed politically motivated by Lithuanian authorities. Volkov, a strong supporter of Navalny, managed to shield himself from the blows and is now being treated at home after a brief hospitalization.
In a video posted online, Volkov blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the attack, labeling it as a “typical gangster greeting” from Putin. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Baltic nation, which is currently a safe haven for opposition figures from Russia and neighboring Belarus. The attack is being seen as a targeted effort to silence opposition voices, both within Russia and abroad.
The assault on Volkov comes in the wake of Navalny’s death last month in a prison camp in the Arctic region. His death drew widespread condemnation, with his supporters and Western governments pointing fingers at the Kremlin. Thousands of Russians mourned Navalny’s death, attending his funeral in Moscow and laying flowers at his gravesite in defiance of the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda vowed to investigate the attack, reassuring the public that measures were being taken to ensure safety. The country’s interior minister echoed this sentiment, noting an increase in provocations but emphasizing that the overall risk assessment remained unchanged.
As the Russian presidential election approaches this weekend, tensions are running high, with critics of Putin facing harassment and violence both in Russia and abroad. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, remains in self-exile in Germany, continuing her late husband’s fight against the Putin regime.
The attack on Volkov underscores the dangerous climate for opposition figures, not just in Russia but in countries where they seek refuge. The assault serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who dare to challenge the current Russian leadership. With Putin poised to secure another term in office in the upcoming elections, the future remains uncertain for those who oppose his rule.