UPDATE - 2 people suspected of attacking Russian oppositionist detained in Poland

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY POLISH PRIME MINISTER

By Jo Harper

WARSAW (AA) - Two people suspected of attacking Russian oppositionist Leonid Volkov on March 12 in Vilnius have been detained in Poland, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday.

Volkov, 43, is the former chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition figure who died in February in a Russian penal colony above the Arctic Circle.

He was attacked outside his home in Vilnius. The suspects smashed the window of his car, sprayed tear gas into his eyes and hit him with a hammer, breaking his arm.

“Thank you to the Republic of Poland for its great work, we talked about it with the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, thank you for the excellent cooperation,” Nauseda told reporters.

“Soon, after completing the procedural activities, these people will be handed over to Lithuania,” he said, without providing further details.

In a separate post on X, he said: "A month ago, Navalny aide Leonid Volkov was brutally attacked in Vilnius. Today, I am glad to announce that suspects have been detained in Poland. Thank you to Andrzej Duda, and law enforcement. Together we warn the organizers of the crime: do not try to repeat it!"

Responding to Nauseda's post, Volkov said: "Thanks a lot, Mr. President. And great thanks to Lithuanian and Polish law enforcement agencies for the tremendous work they’ve done. It is of enormous importance to investigate and to expose all the chain-of-command ... ."

- ‘No leniency’

Meanwhile, a Polish citizen detained in Poland this week was charged with “declaring his readiness to act for Russian intelligence,” which is punishable by up to eight years' imprisonment, the National Prosecutor's Office said.

Pawel K.’s tasks allegedly included collecting and providing the military intelligence to the Russia with information on the security of the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland near the Ukraine border.

He is also said to have helped Russian special services plan a possible attempt on the life of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“There will be no leniency for collaborators of the Russian services. We will crush every betrayal and attempt at destabilization with a hammer," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X.

"The would-be assassin of President Zelenskyy, a Pole acting in cooperation with the Russian services - arrested two days ago. A Belarusian working for the Russians, who ordered two Poles to assassinate Navalny's associate - detained. The assassins are also already in custody. They are associated with ultras circles," Tusk said.