The Lithuanian president announced on Friday April 19 that two people suspected of having attacked Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, last March in Vilnius, were arrested in Poland. Attacked on March 12 with a hammer in front of his home in Vilnius, Mr. Volkov, aged 43, had to be briefly hospitalized.
Lithuanian intelligence services, which quickly spoke of an attack likely “organized by Russia,” later suspected it had been carried out by someone recruited locally. “Two people suspected of attacking Russian opposition leader Leonid Volkov are detained in Poland,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters on Friday. The head of state added that the detainees, whose identities have not been revealed, were going to be deported to Lithuania, without further details.
Nauseda said he had discussed the matter with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, and thanked Warsaw for its “excellent work.” Mr. Volkov immediately declared himself “happy” with this announcement. “I saw with what energy and perseverance the Lithuanian police worked on this case over the past month, and I am very happy that this work bore fruit,” the Russian opponent wrote on the Telegram network. “We will know the details soon. I can’t wait to meet them! ", he added.
