Fri Sep 20 11:10:14 UTC 2024: ## Russian Lawyer Arrested in Poland for Alleged Attacks on Navalny Allies

**WARSAW, POLAND** – Anatoly Blinov, a Russian lawyer, was arrested in Poland on Thursday, following allegations that he orchestrated attacks against associates of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The arrest came a day after a report published by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) accused Blinov of organizing the attacks, allegedly with the help of Leonid Nevzlin, a former co-head of the Russian oil company YUKOS.

The FBK, founded by Navalny in 2011, claims that attacks against several of Navalny’s allies occurred across the globe, including Argentina and Geneva, and were orchestrated by Blinov. These attacks targeted individuals like Leonid Volkov, Ivan Zhdanov, and the wife of economist Maxim Mironov, all known associates of Navalny.

While Polish authorities have not yet disclosed the specific reasons behind Blinov’s arrest, the timing coincides with the FBK report and raises suspicions of a connection.

Nevzlin, who was named as a co-conspirator in the report, has vehemently denied any involvement in the attacks, calling the allegations “concocted in Moscow.” He has demanded an independent investigation into the matter, expressing confidence that a “court in a democratic country” would ultimately deem the accusations baseless.

Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was jailed in 2021 on charges widely considered politically motivated. He died in prison in February of this year at the age of 47. His death, reported by Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, has been met with suspicion by international authorities.

This arrest further highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, particularly concerning the crackdown on opposition figures and the legacy of Alexei Navalny. The full extent of Blinov’s alleged involvement in the attacks, as well as the potential repercussions of his arrest, remain to be seen.

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