麻豆约拍

One of the closest associates of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been attacked outside his home in Lithuania. Leonid Volkov was the chief of staff to Mr Navalny, who died last month in detention in eastern Russia.

An unknown assailant targeted Mr Volkov in his car, smashing a window before spraying him with tear gas and attacking him with a hammer. He was later discharged from hospital with a broken arm and said he would not give up the fight against President Putin.

He has been living in exile in Lithuania due to his work with the Russian opposition. Newsday鈥檚 Ian Rosser spoke to Natalya Pelevina, a Russian opposition activist, who is herself in exile and placed the blame for the attack on President Vladimir Putin.

鈥淭he Russian regime keeps violating everything that we thought was the limit. All that we can expect now is more brutality in the future."

"This is a message being sent out to all opposition members living abroad. We feel less safe now."

(Pic: Leonid Volkor; Credit: Ivan Zhdanov)

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