As of: March 12, 2024, 10:58 p.m
By: Luke Rogalla
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Press
Split
Leonid Volkov, a long-time confidant of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in custody, is said to have been attacked in front of his home.
Vilnius - A close confidant of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in Russian custody, has been violently attacked in exile in Lithuania, according to independent Russian online media and a spokeswoman.
“Leonid Volkov was just attacked in front of his house,” said Kira Jarmisch, who was Navalny’s spokeswoman until Navalny’s death, on Tuesday evening (March 12).
Among other things, Volkov was attacked with tear gas and a hammer.
Leonid Volkov, a close confidante of the late Alexei Navalny © Emmanuele Contini/Imago
Navalny team reports attack on Leonid Volkov
“Someone broke a car window and sprayed tear gas in his eyes.
“The attacker then began to attack Leonid with a hammer,” said Jarmisch, describing the attack.
The spokeswoman did not provide any information about where Volkov lives.
But the independent Russian online media
Mediazona
reported that the opposition figure is in Lithuania.
Navalny supporters spread photos of Volkov online showing him with multiple injuries.
Volkov was one of Navalny's closest confidants, who, according to Russian authorities, died in a Russian prison camp in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence.
According to Russian information, the 47-year-old died of “natural causes,” although the exact circumstances remain unclear.
Navalny's supporters and numerous Western politicians blame the Russian leadership and President Vladimir Putin for the death of the opposition figure.
(lrg/afp)