VILNIUS: Leonid Volkov, a detailed ally of late Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, was assaulted exterior his dwelling in Vilnius on Tuesday (Mar 12), an incident that sparked an uproar from the Lithuanian authorities.
Volkov vowed to proceed his wrestle in opposition to President Vladimir Putin in a video posted on Telegram early Wednesday after he was discharged from hospital.
“We’ll work and we is not going to surrender,” he mentioned, including that the assault, which left him with a damaged arm, was a “attribute bandit hiya” from Putin’s henchmen.
Volkov, 43, is certainly one of Russia’s most outstanding opposition figures and was a detailed confidant of Navalny, working because the late chief’s ex-chief of workers and as chair of his Anti-Corruption Basis till 2023.
In his put up on Wednesday, Volkov mentioned he was struck 15 occasions on the leg throughout the assault.
“The leg by some means is OK, it hurts to stroll … Nonetheless, I broke my arm,” Volkov mentioned Wednesday.
“They actually wished to make a schnitzel out of me,” he added.
Navalny spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh earlier mentioned that “somebody broke a automotive window and sprayed tear fuel in his eyes” earlier than hitting him with a hammer.
Volkov’s spouse, Anna Biryukova, earlier shared photographs of her husband’s accidents on social media, together with a black eye, a pink mark on his brow and blood on his leg, which had soaked by his denims.
Lithuanian police spokesperson Ramunas Matonis confirmed to AFP {that a} Russian citizen was assaulted close to his dwelling within the capital Vilnius round 10pm native time.
The suspects haven’t been recognized and extra particulars in regards to the assault are anticipated on Wednesday morning, he mentioned.
“SHOCKING” ATTACK
The assault comes nearly a month after Navalny’s demise in an Arctic jail, which Volkov blamed on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and days earlier than elections set to increase the Kremlin chief’s keep in energy.
The day earlier than he was attacked, Volkov wrote on social media: “Putin killed Navalny. And plenty of others earlier than that.”
