Lithuania is one of the European countries where many Russian opponents have found refuge, and have done so for around ten years. According to the latest figures, more than 15,000 Russian citizens reside in this Baltic country. The teams of Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny found refuge there. But what is the mood among the Russian opposition in Lithuania?
2 mins
From our correspondent in Vilnius,
Russians are numerous and they are far from being a very united community. Nevertheless, in the different groups, the concern is palpable. Among those very close to Navalny’s team present in Lithuania for several years, some believe that this aggression is a way to scare those who are against Vladimir Putin.
Some, who prefer to remain anonymous, are surprised that this could have happened in Lithuania. As for others, like investigative journalist Mikhail Maglov, a close friend of Boris Nemtsov, the authorities were counting on fear after the death of Alexei Navalny. But since the people did not give in, this attack was predictable.
Tracking Russian opponents abroad
During a press conference, the general police commissioner was very evasive about the fact that these opponents were protected by the Lithuanian state. We understand that certain procedures will be reviewed. Leonid Volkov will remain under protection for a while. For the moment, a person enjoys continuous protection in Lithuania, it is Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the Belarusian opponent, who arrived in August 2020 in Vilnius. However, the question arises. Many opponents believe this is only the beginning. Vladimir Putin tracks down his opponents even abroad. The last example that everyone gives is that of the Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine. He was found dead in Spain.
For several years, Vilnius has been a place where the Russian opposition meets. Which shouldn’t change. As MEP and former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said, Lithuania’s security requires a more favorable neighborhood and to be able to envisage regime changes in Russia, as in Belarus, it is necessary to support the opponents who are working to Vilnius. There are many conferences to talk about free Russia. The initiative comes as much from the Russian opposition on site as from the Lithuanian government which wants to play a unifying role. However, the blow is hard.
An opponent who prefers to remain anonymous believes that wills could waver when it comes to protesting on Sunday at noon in front of the Russian embassy against the presidential vote, described here as a pseudo-election.
Read alsoGermany: on the eve of the Russian presidential election, the opposition in exile shaken by the death of Navalny