Leonid Volkov. Photo: EPA-EFE/PHILIP DAVALI DENMARK OUT

Long-time Alexey Navalny associate Leonid Volkov, who was violently attacked in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in March, announced the arrest in Poland of two men suspected of carrying out the attack on Friday.

Referring to a statement by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Volkov said that Polish and Lithuanian law enforcement agencies had detained two suspects.

“I don’t yet know any further details but I can say I have seen how tirelessly the Lithuanian police worked on this case over the past month, and I am very glad that has brought results,” he wrote.

Volkov after the attack. Photo: Ivan Zhdanov

Volkov was attacked on the evening of 12 March near his home in a residential area on the outskirts of Vilnius. Navalny’s press secretary Kira Yarmysh first reported the incident, saying that Volkov’s car window had been broken, and an attacker had sprayed tear gas in his eyes before beating him with a hammer.

Volkov suffered a broken arm and leg injuries in the attack, which Nausėda said had clearly been planned.

As well as serving as the chief of staff for Navalny’s 2018 presidential election campaign, Volkov was also chairman of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation until 2023.