Russian opposition activist Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny who died in an Arctic prison just over three weeks ago, showed himself to be combative following a violent attack outside his home in Lithuania.
"We will carry on and not give up," Volkov said in a video published on Telegram on Wednesday.
Volkov, who lives in exile in Lithuania and served as Navalny's chief of staff, was attacked and injured outside his home on Tuesday evening.
The attack was a "typical bandit salute" by Russian President Vladimir Putin's henchmen, he said.
"They literally wanted to beat me to a pulp with a hammer," Volkov added after his release from hospital.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda believes the attack on Volkov was a deliberate act.
"It is clear that such things are planned and we should not be surprised," Nauseda asserted.
"But I want to make it very clear: the relevant authorities are investigating and will hopefully find the culprits," Nauseda told Lithuanian radio on Wednesday on the sidelines of a visit to France.
He added: "I can only say one thing to Putin: Nobody here is afraid of you."
According to the Lithuanian police, Volkov was attacked near his home in Vilnius at around 10 pm (2000 GMT) on Tuesday.
"The man attacked me in the courtyard and hit my leg about 15 times. The leg is fine. It hurts when I walk," Volkov said in the video. "But my arm is broken."
The motive for the attack is still unclear. According to the police, Volkov was attacked and beaten by unknown persons when he arrived in a car in the courtyard of his house.
The investigation is ongoing, the police said.
