By way of Sarah RainsfordEastern Europe correspondent12 March 2024Updated 32 mins agoImage supply, Ivan Zhdanov Symbol caption, Leonid Volkov was once hit with a hammer and pepper sprayedA long-time best friend of the overdue Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny has been attacked outdoor his house in Lithuania. Leonid Volkov mentioned his arm was once damaged and his leg hit 15 instances with a hammer.The alleged assailant is unknown, however Mr Volkov mentioned it was once politically motivated.He mentioned it was once “an glaring, standard, gangster greeting from Putin, from bandit St Petersburg”, however gave not more information about his attacker.Police have begun an investigation into the assault, which came about because the activist arrived at house in Vilnius in his automobile.”A number of theories had been put ahead, and when it turns into clearer, we will supply additional information,” Police deputy commissioner Saulijus Tamulevicius advised LRT radio.Some other member of the Navalny group, Ivan Zhdanov, posted footage on social media appearing Mr Volkov with a bloodied decrease left leg and bruising to his head.Requested whether or not the assailant had shouted the rest, Mr Zhdanov mentioned: “The whole thing took place in silence… in fact this can be a transparent political assault, there’s no doubt right here.” Mr Volkov’s spouse, who could also be a part of the Navalny group, mentioned her husband had returned house from medical institution with a damaged arm, including that he was once not able to stroll as a result of the hammer blows to his leg.”We can all paintings much more. And with even larger anger,” Anna Biryukova posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter.Navalny was once serving a 19-year sentence after being convicted of fees that had been politically motivated.Mr Volkov additionally faces quite a lot of politically motivated fees in Russia. He was once chairman of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis till final yr, when he resigned following the revelation he had signed letters calling for the EU to drop some Russian sanctions.Lithuanian International Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis mentioned the “perpetrators must resolution for his or her crime”.In a video posted on social media on his go back house, Mr Volkov complained that his attacker had used a meat hammer and “actually sought after to make a schnitzel out of me”.He vowed the assault would no longer prevent his political activism and he known as on electorate in Russia to sign up for a relaxed protest on Sunday, the overall day of vote casting in Russia’s presidential election, wherein no authentic opposition candidate has been allowed to run.He steered Russians to go for polling stations on the identical time for an act that supporters are calling “noon in opposition to Putin”. “We need to do one thing, proper?” he concluded.Regardless of dwelling outdoor Russia, Mr Volkov has made certain that the activism of Navalny and his group may just proceed.This has incorporated anti-corruption investigations, YouTube movies and livestreams all the way through protests and primary occasions in Russia.Many extra activists moved to sign up for Mr Volkov in another country in 2021 after Navalny’s complete political organisation was once labelled “extremist” and banned in Russia. A number of of Navalny’s former group at the moment are in jail, in addition to a few of his attorneys.
