Alexei Navalny Ally Attacked with Hammer and Tear Gas: A Clear Political Attack
A long-time ally of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Leonid Volkov, was assaulted in a violent incident while inside his car near Vilnius, Lithuania. The attack, involving the use of tear gas and a hammer, was confirmed by Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh late on Tuesday. The motive and the assailant’s identity are still unclear. It is worth noting that the assault occurred approximately a month after the unexplained death of Navalny in a remote penal colony in the Arctic. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was serving a prison term on what are widely perceived as politically motivated extremism charges.
The timing is significant, with an election on the horizon, in which Putin is widely expected to secure his fifth, six-year term. This particular election is characterized by extreme censorship, a severe crackdown on the opposition, and a carefully stage-managed process.
Attacker’s Motive Unknown; Investigations Underway
As the attack took place, Leonid Volkov, 43, sustained visible injuries to his temple and a bloody leg, as evidenced in pictures posted on social media by Volkov and other members of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. Kira Yarmysh confirmed the identity of Volkov’s assailant, emphasizing the attack’s political nature.
The Kremlin has yet to issue an immediate response to these distressing events. The Lithuanian police have launched a criminal investigation, with Gabrielius Landsbergis, the foreign minister, expressing shock at the incident and emphasizing the perpetrators’ accountability.
Leonid Volkov Takes a Defiant Stance
Leonid Volkov, who earlier contributed to Navalny’s election campaigns and played a prominent role in opposition movement activities, has made a public statement following the attack. In a Telegram video, Volkov said, “We will work, we will not give up,” expressing his determination to persevere despite sustaining injuries, including a broken arm and being hit 15 times with a hammer.
Volkov’s reference to the attack as a “typical gangster greeting from Putin’s henchmen” alludes to the period when Vladimir Putin served as deputy mayor in St. Petersburg during the 1990s, a time marked by rampant criminal activities.
A Sustained Effort against Putin and the Opposition’s Challenges
Leonid Volkov, similar to many Russian opposition figures, previously left the country due to mounting pressure from the authorities. Despite stepping down as the chairman of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation in the wake of controversies regarding Russian oligarchs and the war in Ukraine, Volkov has remained active in leading the foundation’s anti-corruption investigations, organizing essential livestreams, and continuing his anti-Putin activism from Lithuania.
Unfortunately, dissent against Putin has become almost criminalized, with severe penalties for any form of opposition. Many Russians, including young individuals, found themselves leaving the country following the invasion of Ukraine. As the Russian opposition, led by Aleksey Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya, urges widespread participation in the upcoming election to challenge election officials, the foundation’s efforts focus on advising activists within the country on safe practices for expressing dissent and organizing grassroots campaigns.
Powerful Change through Nonviolent Means
Despite skepticism surrounding the effectiveness of exiled opposition movements, nonviolent strategies have proven successful in bringing about change in the past. The opposition, while curtailed within Russia, should not underestimate their potential impact. Professor Sam Greene, a renowned expert in Russian politics, highlights the historical precedence of unarmed movements overcoming oppressive regimes. The notion that unarmed citizens cannot shape the fate of their nation against armed forces is fundamentally flawed.
