Lithuanian president says attack on Navalny ally likely ‘organised by Russia’

A violent attack on a long-time ally of the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in Vilnius on Tuesday was likely organised by Russia, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said on Wednesday.

Volkov was attacked with a hammer outside of his home in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, suffering a broken arm and injuries to his leg.

Nausėda told reporters in Paris it was “clear” that such attacks were planned.

“We should not be surprised. … And I can only say one thing to Putin — nobody is afraid of you here.”

Saulius Tamulevičius, the deputy commissioner general of the Lithuanian police, said its anti-terrorist unit would head the investigation into the attack on Volkov.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tweeted late on Tuesday that the authorities were investigating the “shocking” assault and that its “perpetrators will have to answer for their crime”.