Two men have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Russian activist Leonid Volkov, an ally of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The attack on Volkov occurred on March 12 outside his home in Vilnius, Lithuania. The suspects, Polish citizens known to police, allegedly traveled to Vilnius before the attack and returned to Warsaw afterward.
The suspects are believed to have carried out the attack on Volkov on the orders of foreign intelligence services, according to officials. Volkov, who lives in exile in Vilnius, was targeted outside his home where the attacker smashed one of his car's windows, sprayed tear gas into his eyes, and hit him with a hammer.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced the arrests and expressed gratitude to Poland for their cooperation in the case. Both suspects, Polish citizens with a history known to the police, were detained on April 3 in an operation involving Lithuanian police.
The suspects are expected to be handed over to Lithuania in May for further legal proceedings. If convicted of causing bodily harm, they could face up to three years in prison. In Poland, a court spokesperson confirmed that the two men were arrested on suspicion of organizing the assault on Volkov at the behest of a foreign country's special services.
Volkov, who sustained a broken arm in the attack, has been vocal about the incident and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the investigation. The attack on Volkov came shortly after the death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition figure in Russia, which sparked widespread condemnation and accusations against the Kremlin.
Navalny's funeral in Moscow drew thousands of supporters, highlighting the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Russia. Volkov, who previously worked closely with Navalny, has been a key figure in the opposition movement and has faced pressure from Russian authorities, leading to his exile.
