. . . Now they — the Russian hit squad — have gone outside their borders to attack one of Navalny’s team, Leonid Volkov, in front of his home in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he has been living in exile for several years. Like others of Alexei Navalny’s team, he faces multiple politically-based charges in Russia and cannot return to his homeland.

On Tuesday evening, March 12th, Volkov had just arrived at his home in Vilnius when someone shattered a window of his car and viciously attacked him. According to reports of the incident, Volkov said that the attack took place “in silence.” Kira Yarmysh, spokesperson for Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), issued the following statement on social media:

“Leonid Volkov has just been attacked outside his house. Someone broke a car window and sprayed tear gas in his eyes, after which the attacker started hitting Leonid with a hammer.” Ivan Zhdanov, director of the FBK, added that “they hit his legs with a hammer and hit his arms.” Volkov was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. [Darya Tarasova and Tara John, CNN, March 13, 2024.]

Volkov’s wife, Anna Biryukova — also part of the Navalny team — said that her husband returned home from the hospital the following day with a broken arm and unable to walk because of the hammer blows to his leg. With absolute certainty that the attack was the work of Vladimir Putin’s hit squad, she said, “We will all work even more. And with even greater anger.” [Sarah Rainsford, BBC Europe, March 13, 2024.]

Lithuanian intelligence has said the attack was “Russian-organised and implemented.” Volkov has concurred, stating that it was “an obvious, typical, gangster greeting from Putin, from bandits St. Petersburg.” [Id.]

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the attack on Volkov was clearly pre-planned, and that it was tied to other provocations against Lithuania, a country that is a member of both NATO and the European Union. He sent the following additional message: “I can only say one thing to Putin – nobody is afraid of you here.” [Andrius Sytas, Reuters, March 13, 2024.] And Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis added that “the perpetrators will have to answer for their crime.” [BBC Europe, March 13, 2024.]

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There is little doubt that the attack, coming just three days before the start of the Russian presidential election, was intended to reinforce Putin’s ongoing threats against those who dare to challenge his absolute authority, and to remind those living in the relative safety of countries outside Russia — even member nations of NATO and the EU — that there is no escape from the long reach of his thugs and killers. Despite the obvious outcome of the election, he will broach no opposition.

And this is the man who will rule Russia with an iron hand for six — and perhaps twelve — more years, in accordance with his own amendments to the Russian Constitution. A man without conscience or concern for human life. The same man who has declared war against Ukraine in order to reclaim it as Russian territory; threatened the use of nuclear weapons if — in his words — Russia’s sovereign territory is threatened; and simply killed off those who have been most vocal in opposing him.

For 30 years, the future looked promising for the people of Russia. They enjoyed freedoms and opportunities unknown to previous generations. But now, that same future can only be described as bleak. It makes me sick, and afraid — not only for the Russian people, but for the countries that are next on Putin’s bucket list of conquests. It cannot be permitted to continue . . . but how to stop it?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/14/24