Vilnius, Lithuania — In a shocking turn of events, the team behind Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition figure, has accused another Russian dissident of orchestrating a violent attack on Leonid Volkov, a former aide to Navalny. Volkov was brutally assaulted by individuals wielding hammers outside his residence in Lithuania, an incident which initially led many to suspect Kremlin involvement.
The accusation has cast a shadow over the Russian opposition community abroad, often united in its vocal criticism of the Kremlin but also known for internal disputes. The allegation is particularly surprising as it implicates Leonid Nevzlin, a well-known businessman and critic of the Russian government, in the attack. According to Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, Nevzlin hired two Polish nationals for the assault due to a disagreement over political stances.
The foundation’s claims are based on screenshots of supposed conversations on the Signal messaging app, which allegedly capture Nevzlin coordinating the attack. These messages suggest that Nevzlin intended for Volkov to be severely injured and potentially deported back to Russia, where imprisonment would likely await him. The leaked chat features photos surreptitiously taken of Volkov and other team members that highlighted errors in identifying their whereabouts, pointing to the assailants’ alleged incompetence.
Despite the gravity of these accusations, the evidence presented has sparked controversy and skepticism, primarily due to its source — a middleman suspected to have ties with Russia’s FSB security service. This connection has fueled speculations that the Kremlin may be attempting to sow discord within the opposition ranks.
Nevzlin has vehemently denied all allegations through a statement on his Telegram channel, condemning the claims as manufactured and suggesting they are part of a smear campaign originating from Moscow. He has called for an independent investigation into the validity of the materials presented against him.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed support for the Russian opposition but emphasized the importance of scrutinizing all claims regarding organizational involvement in violence.
The situation is further complicated by additional claims from Navalny’s team, accusing Nevzlin of orchestrating another attack, this time against the spouse of notable economist Maxim Mironov in Argentina. Mironov has been a critic of Nevzlin on social media, which allegedly placed him and his family at risk.
Amid these multiple accusations, Maria Pevchikh, head of investigations at the Navalny team, portrayed the attack as an action by extremist oligarchs masquerading as opposition figures. She described the tactics allegedly used by Nevzlin as reminiscent of the ruthless business practices prevalent in Russia during the 1990s.
Further straining the ties within the opposition, the incident has led to the largest rift seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some figures have rallied in support of Nevzlin, while others caution against hastily accepting the claims without thorough vetting, suggesting the possibility of a Kremlin plot to incite infighting.
This discord is underscored by the diverse reactions from the Russian opposition community. Navalny’s mother and widow lauded the courage of Navalny’s allies in bringing the allegations to light, despite the potential for Kremlin exploitation. Conversely, journalist and longtime friend of Navalny, Yevgenia Albats, has criticized the public airing of internal disputes, asserting that such actions undermine Navalny’s legacy.
Russian state media and its commentators have eagerly covered the unfolding scandal, highlighting the divisions and using them to potentially weaken the united front against the Kremlin’s policies.
This unexpected accusation not only threatens the cohesiveness of the Russian opposition in exile but also raises profound questions about trust and solidarity among those opposed to President Vladimir Putin’s regime.