Leonid Volkov, former chief of staff to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was viciously attacked outside his residence in Vilnius, Lithuania. The assailants smashed Volkov’s car window, sprayed him with tear gas, and then proceeded to beat him with a hammer. The incident was first brought to light by Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson, on social media platform X, as reported by Politico.
Yarmysh shared graphic images of Volkov’s leg injury and his vandalized car, along with a photo of Volkov being taken into an ambulance. The Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, confirmed the attack and pledged that the perpetrators would be held accountable for their actions.
This attack on Volkov comes in the aftermath of Navalny’s death in a Russian prison on February 16. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was buried on March 1, with Russia gearing up for a presidential election from March 15-17.
The assault on Volkov is part of a series of events following Navalny’s death that have rocked Russia. Navalny’s mysterious demise sparked widespread protests across the country, leading to the detention of over 400 people. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has vowed to continue her husband’s fight against Putin.
Meanwhile, Sergei Naryshkin, the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), controversially attributed Navalny’s death to natural causes. The circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death and the subsequent events have raised concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in Russia.
The attack on Volkov underscores the ongoing challenges faced by critics of the Russian government and the dangers they encounter in speaking out against the regime. It serves as a grim reminder of the risks involved in advocating for political reform and transparency in a country where dissent is met with harsh reprisals.
As the world watches the developments in Russia, the international community continues to condemn the violence and repression against opposition figures and activists. The assault on Leonid Volkov highlights the urgent need for accountability and justice in the face of such brazen attacks on democracy and human rights.
