Watch: Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov garners severe injury in hammer attack

New Delhi: Leonid Volkov, a trusted aide to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has sustained severe injuries in a violent hammer attack, as confirmed by Kira Yarmysh, former press secretary and assistant to Navalny, on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Details of the attack

Yarmysh's tweet on Tuesday shed light on the distressing incident, stating, "Leonid Volkov @leonidvolkov has just been attacked outside his house. Someone broke a car window and sprayed tear gas in his eyes, after which the attacker started hitting Leonid with a hammer. Leonid is now at home, police and ambulance are on their way to him."

❗🇷🇺⚔️🇱🇹 - Leonid Volkov, a prominent Russian opposition figure and ally of the late Alexei Navalny, was hospitalized in Lithuania after being attacked with tear gas and hammers outside his residence.

Volkov, 43, served as Navalny's chief of staff and was president of an… pic.twitter.com/jfA3g57M6C

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) March 13, 2024

Eyewitness account

Nadya Tolokonnikova, claiming to be Volkov's colleague, expressed shock and outrage over the attack, directing blame at Russian President Vladimir Putin. In her tweet, she recounted the brutal assault and emphasized the severity of the situation, highlighting the use of a hammer in the attack.

Residency in Lithuania

Volkov has been residing in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, since 2021, following Russia's decision to outlaw Navalny's organizations as "extremist" groups. This relocation was likely a precautionary measure taken to ensure his safety amidst escalating political tensions in Russia.

Сейчас Леонид Волков в больнице

Фото от Ивана Жданова (https://t.co/qaoYuCGYlg) pic.twitter.com/4d0llz0ozK

— Команда Навального (@teamnavalny) March 12, 2024

Response and investigation

Following the attack, Ivan Zhdanov, another aide to Navalny, shared images of Volkov's injuries on Telegram, depicting bloodied legs and a car with a smashed window. However, the identity of the assailant remains unclear, prompting speculation and concerns about the motive behind the violent assault.

The vicious attack on Leonid Volkov underscores the ongoing risks faced by individuals associated with the Russian opposition movement. As authorities investigate the incident, the assault serves as a grim reminder of the challenges confronting dissenting voices in Russia's political landscape.