Navalny team's allegations 'serious', investigation underway – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Thursday described as "serious" the allegations made by the team of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny about the masterminds behind last March's attack on his close ally Leonid Volkov in Vilnius.

"What has been made public sounds serious; the accusations are serious," Lithuania's top diplomat told the parliament. 

"The institutions must have their say. To my knowledge, they are looking into it and gathering information. I believe they will come up with certain conclusions and proposals. In other words, it would be best for politicians not to jump the gun while the investigation is ongoing,” he added.

In early September, Navalny's team claimed that the attack on Volkov in Vilnius was ordered by another opposition figure, businessman Leonid Nevzlin.

The initial plan was allegedly to kidnap Volkov in Lithuania and transport him to Russia, and there were also plans to injure him during a visit to the United States. According to the team's investigation, the businessman likely acted out of revenge because Navalny's allies refused to cooperate with him.

Navalny's team claims that the information about Nevzlin was provided by a person believed to have close ties to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). 

The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by Navalny who died in prison early this year, claims to have verified the information as reliable in cooperation with investigative journalists.

Nevzlin, a former vice-president of the Yukos oil company and a close ally of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, denies the allegations.

Both Nevzlin and Khodorkovsky, as well as Volkov and his associates, have participated in various meetings and forums of the Russian opposition in Lithuania.  Lithuanian politicians and officials maintain contact with them.

Polish nationals suspected of involvement in the attack on Volkov were arrested in Warsaw in April but a Polish court refused to extradite them to Lithuania because they are also suspected of criminal activity in their country.

Volkov was attacked in his car outside his home in the Lithuanian capital late on March 12.

The attacker broke the car's window, sprayed tear gas and started hitting Volkov with a meat tenderizer, causing a broken arm and leg injuries.

Soon after the attack, Lithuanian politicians and experts pointed to the Kremlin regime and Russia's special services as being behind it.