The Russian opponent in exile, Leonid Volkov, close to Alexeï Navalny, was attacked outside his home in Lithuania on Tuesday. “Someone broke a car window and sprayed tear gas in his eyes before starting to hit Leonid with a hammer,” said Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s ex-spokeswoman.
Leonid Volkov, a Russian opponent in exile and close to Alexeï Navalny, was the victim of an attack on Tuesday outside his home in Lithuania, said an opposition media outlet and Navalny’s former spokesperson. “Leonid Volkov was just attacked outside his house. Someone smashed a car window and sprayed tear gas in his eyes before starting to hit Leonid with a hammer,” said Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s former spokesperson, who died in custody in Russia on February 16.
Those close to Navalny released photos showing Mr. Volkov’s injuries, including a black eye, a red mark on his forehead and blood on one of his legs. According to Kira Yarmysh, Leonid Volkov is now at home and help is on the way. The spokesperson did not give any details on the country where he resides but the independent Russian media Mediazona assures that he is in Lithuania. Leonid Volkov is a former chief of staff of Navalny and chaired until 2023 the anti-corruption foundation founded by the former number one opponent of Vladimir Putin. Mr Volkov accused the Russian president of being directly responsible for Navalny’s death.