Two individuals have been apprehended in Poland on suspicion of assaulting Russian opposition activist Leonid Volkov, a close associate of the late activist Alexei Navalny, as announced by the Lithuanian president on Friday.
Volkov was the target of an attack in March outside his residence in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, where he currently resides in exile. The assailant reportedly broke one of the windows of his vehicle, sprayed tear gas into his eyes, and struck him with a hammer, according to police reports at the time.
President Gitanas Nauseda conveyed the news of the arrests to the press in Vilnius and expressed gratitude towards Poland for their efforts, although there was no immediate response from Polish authorities.
“Two individuals have been taken into custody in Poland on suspicion of assaulting Russian opposition leader Leonid Volkov. I extend my appreciation to the Republic of Poland for their outstanding efforts. I have had discussions with the Polish president and conveyed my gratitude for their exceptional collaboration,” Nauseda stated.
Volkov, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), mentioned that he was not aware of the specifics of the arrest but acknowledged the diligent and persistent efforts of the Lithuanian police over the past month in this matter. He expressed his satisfaction that their hard work had yielded results.
“As for the specifics, we will soon be informed. I am eagerly anticipating further details!” Volkov shared.
