After hammer attack

Lithuania wants to better protect critical exiled Russians

Following the brutal attack on Navalny supporter Leonid Volkov, the Lithuanian police are investigating at full speed.(Bild: APA/AFP/PETRAS MALUKAS)

Following the sensational attack on Kremlin critic Leonid Volkov in the Lithuanian city of Vilnius, the Baltic country wants to offer more protection to representatives of the Russian and Belarusian opposition living in exile.

"There are certain mechanisms that are now being implemented," explained the head of the national crisis center, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, on Lithuanian radio on Thursday. He did not give any details.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also emphasized that the attack on Volkov shows that both people who have sought refuge in Lithuania and those living in the country are potential targets. "We have to adapt to this new reality."

Sensational hammer attack on Russian exile
Volkov, who lives in exile in Lithuania, was attacked and injured outside his home in Vilnius on Tuesday evening. The reasons behind the attack are still unclear - the investigation is ongoing.

Volkov after the horrific attack(Bild: APA/AFP/Courtesy of X user @a_biryukova)

The Lithuanian secret service assumes that it was probably "an operation organized and carried out by Russia". Vitkauskas also spoke of a "well-planned and professional operation", which could be described as the first case of political terrorism in Lithuania.

With a view to the upcoming presidential election in Russia this weekend, Vitkauskas and Landsbergis called for vigilance. Lithuania's Foreign Minister revealed that the authorities were preparing for possible provocations. "We are in a sensitive region and must be prepared because we are already living in a different reality," Landsbergis said.