Two men have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Russian activist Leonid Volkov, an ally of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the arrests on social media, stating that the suspects were linked to extremist soccer fan circles and acted on the orders of foreign intelligence services. Volkov was attacked outside his home in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he lives in exile. The assailant smashed his car window, sprayed tear gas, and hit him with a hammer. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda thanked Poland for their cooperation in the case.
Both suspects are Polish citizens who traveled to Vilnius before the attack on Volkov and returned to Warsaw afterward. They were detained in an operation that involved Lithuanian police, and Lithuania expects them to be handed over in May for prosecution. If convicted of causing bodily harm, they could face up to three years in prison. The suspects were arrested on suspicion of being part of an organized group carrying out the orders of a foreign intelligence service. The court in Warsaw has agreed to extradite them to Lithuania for further investigation.
Volkov, who suffered a broken arm in the attack, expressed gratitude for the diligent work of the Lithuanian police in solving the case. He vowed to continue his opposition work despite the brutal assault, which he blamed on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “henchmen.” The attack on Volkov occurred shortly after Navalny’s mysterious death in a Russian penal colony, where he was serving a politically motivated sentence. Navalny’s widow, Yulia, has vowed to carry on his work, while Volkov remains committed to opposing Putin’s regime.
The arrest of the two suspects in Poland comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and Western countries over alleged acts of aggression and interference. Poland has recently announced the arrest of a man suspected of spying for Russia with the intention of assassinating Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Polish Prime Minister Tusk has made it clear that there will be no tolerance for collaborators of Russian intelligence services. The international community has condemned Russia for Navalny’s death and the ongoing crackdown on dissent in the country.
Volkov, who used to lead Navalny’s regional offices and election campaigns, has been a prominent figure in Russia’s opposition movement. He sought to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election and has faced pressure from the Russian authorities, leading him to leave the country several years ago. The arrests in Poland and Lithuania highlight the risks faced by individuals who speak out against the Russian government and the lengths to which foreign intelligence services may go to silence dissent. Despite the threats and attacks, Volkov remains determined to continue his activism and opposition work.
