Attack on Leonid Volkov in Lithuania Raises Safety Concerns for Russian Opposition

Leonid Volkov, an associate of the late critic of Putin, Alexei Navalny, was assaulted with a hammer in Lithuania.

The BBC reported that the attack occurred near his home, involving a hammer and tear gas while Volkov was in his vehicle in Vilnius on Tuesday night.

Volkov, previously Navalny’s chief-of-staff until Navalny died in a Russian prison last month, sustained multiple injuries from the assault. The attack resulted in cuts on his lower left leg, head bruising, and other injuries, necessitating hospital treatment.

The incident has heightened concerns for the safety of Navalny’s allies and other Russian opposition figures amid the country’s tense political climate. Following the designation of Navalny’s political organization as “extremist” and its subsequent ban in 2021, many activists, including Volkov, fled Russia.

As presidential elections near, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, has called for peaceful protests at polling stations, a tactic once advocated by Navalny. The recent attack on Volkov underscores the ongoing risks for opposition members in Russia, emphasizing the personal dangers of opposing the regime.