1 month ago
- Two men person been detained successful Poland connected suspicion of attacking Russian activistic Leonid Volkov, an state of nan precocious guidance leader Alexei Navalny.
- The onslaught connected Volkov occurred connected March 12 extracurricular his location successful Vilnius, Lithuania.
- The suspects, Polish citizens known to police, allegedly traveled to Vilnius earlier nan onslaught and returned to Warsaw afterward.
Two men person been detained in Poland connected suspicion that they attacked Russian activistic Leonid Volkov — an state of nan precocious guidance leader Alexei Navalny — connected nan orders of overseas intelligence services, officials said Friday.
Volkov was attacked connected March 12 extracurricular his location successful nan Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, wherever he lives successful exile. The attacker smashed 1 of his car’s windows, sprayed tear state into his eyes and deed him pinch a hammer, constabulary said astatine nan time.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced nan arrests to reporters successful Vilnius and thanked Poland for its work.
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"Two group person been detained successful Poland connected suspicion of beating Russian guidance leader Leonid Volkov. I convey nan Republic of Poland for nan fantabulous activity it has done. I person discussed this pinch nan Polish president and thanked them for their fantabulous cooperation," Nausėda said.
Leonid Volkov, main of unit for nan 2018 statesmanlike predetermination of Russian guidance leader Alexei Navalny, is seen astatine nan European Parliament successful Strasbourg, eastbound France, connected Dec. 15, 2021. Two men person been detained successful Poland connected suspicion that they attacked Volkov connected nan orders of overseas intelligence services, officials said connected Friday. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
Both suspects are Polish citizens antecedently known to constabulary successful their homeland. They traveled to Vilnius earlier nan onslaught connected Volkov and returned to Warsaw afterward, according to Lithuania’s lawman constabulary chief, Saulius Briginas.
He said they were detained connected April 3 successful an cognition successful which Lithuanian constabulary participated.
Lithuania expects them to beryllium handed complete successful May, main charismatic Justas Laucius told reporters. If convicted connected charges of causing bodily harm, they look up to 3 years successful prison.
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In Poland, Joanna Adamowicz, nan spokesperson for a Warsaw court, said that nan 2 men were put nether apprehension until May 13, connected suspicion that "they had organized connected nan territory of nan Lithuanian Republic an battle and caused harm to nan wellness of Russian citizen L. W.," while "being progressive successful an organized group and carrying retired nan orders of nan typical services of an alien country."
Volkov's past sanction is spelled pinch a "w" successful Polish.
The tribunal successful Warsaw's Praga territory has decided to manus them complete to Lithuania for nan intent of a criminal investigation, connected nan information that they would service immoderate imaginable reward successful Poland, Adamowicz said successful an email to The Associated Press.
Their lawyers person lodged complaints and nan files person been sent to nan Appeals Court successful Warsaw, she said. It was not instantly clear really agelong nan appeals could take.
Poland's Central Investigation Bureau of Police confirmed that its officers worked pinch Lithuanian constabulary to apprehension 2 group suspected of an onslaught connected a Russian guidance activistic successful Lithuania successful March.
The developments came a time aft Poland announced nan apprehension of a Polish man suspected of being fresh to spy connected behalf of Russia’s subject intelligence successful an alleged crippled to assassinate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Volkov said connected X, formerly Twitter, that he didn’t cognize nan specifications of nan arrest, but "saw really energetically and persistently nan Lithuanian constabulary person worked complete nan past period connected this case" and was "very gladsome that this activity has paid off."
"As for nan details, we will find them retired soon. Can’t hold to find out!" Volkov wrote.
Volkov suffered a surgery limb successful nan sadistic onslaught and was hospitalized. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "henchmen" astatine nan clip of work successful nan onslaught and vowed to support up his guidance work.
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The onslaught took spot astir a period aft Navalny’s unexplained decease successful a distant Arctic penal colony. He was Russia’s best-known guidance fig and Putin’s fiercest critic. Navalny had been imprisoned since January 2021 and was serving a 19-year condemnation connected charges of extremism wide seen arsenic politically motivated.
Opposition figures and Western leaders laid nan blasted connected nan Kremlin for his decease — thing officials successful Moscow vehemently rejected.
Navalny's ceremonial successful nan Russian superior connected March 1 drew thousands of supporters, a uncommon show of defiance successful Putin’s Russia amid an unabating and ruthless crackdown connected dissent. Navalny's widow, Yulia, vowed to proceed his work.
Volkov utilized to beryllium successful complaint of Navalny’s location offices and predetermination campaigns. He ran for politician of Moscow successful 2013 and sought to situation Putin successful nan 2018 statesmanlike election. Volkov near Russia respective years agone nether unit from nan authorities.
