Kasparov's aide badly beaten in Moscow

The news agencies are reporting that Marina Litvinovich, an aide to Russian opposition politician Garry Kasparov and a former head of the electoral headquarters of the liberal SPS party, was badly beaten on a Moscow street on Monday evening. Litvinovich was hit over the head from behind as she was leaving her office and heading for her car, at about 21:15h Moscow time. She collapsed after the very first blow and cannot describe the attackers.

Marina Litvinovich [Photo: lenta.ru/mosnews.com]

Litvinovich was hospitalized but released from the hospital after about one hour, after doctors diagnosed her with bruising but not concussion.

Litvinovich carried some valuables with her – a notebook computer, some money, car keys and a mobile phone, but nothing was missing after the attack. Thus the victim holds it unlikely that the reason behind the incident was attempted robbery. She says the attack may be linked to her work with the victims of the Beslan and Nord-Ost crises.

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Opposition activist Marina Litvinovch was treated at a local hospital for a suspected concussion and later released after the assault near her office late yesterday, said Denis Bilunov, a Kasparov spokesman. Though Litvinovich had a laptop and money, the attackers stole nothig, Bilunov said.

"It is undoubtedly connected to her political activity," Biunov said. "It's pretty evident."

Litvinovich is known for being the chief editor of the Truth of Beslan Web site, which is dedicated to finding out what really occurred during the bloody school hostage siege in the southern town of Beslan that left 331 people dead.

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"In the evening I walked out of our office building on Makarenko Street and headed for my car when I was knocked unconscious," Litvinovich told Interfax on Tuesday. Litvinovich said she had regained consciousness about forty minutes after the attack. She had two teeth knocked out and sustained bruises to her face and leg. "My back hurts terribly," she said. Litvinovich said she had not seen the assailants.

Doctors confirmed the Litvinovich had sustained multiple bruises in the attack and was showing concussion-like symptoms, the Kasparov.ru online newspaper reported.

Marina Litvinovich [Photo: Kasparov.ru]

"Nothing was stolen from her – neither her laptop, handbag nor purse. The incident has already been reported to police. A criminal case will be opened soon," the newspaper reported. "It was not the first attack on United Civil Front activists. But such incidents previously occurred mainly in the regions, not in Moscow," it said.

Interfax article