An assassination attempt on Igor Ronzhin had been planned since February.

      According to sources close to him, Ronzhin's eye was surgically sewn shut and special solutions and ointments were administered. Medics are doing everything possible to prevent total loss of vision. The victim himself is on painkillers; his condition remains severe, although he is holding on and calls it "stable."

      Victim's condition

      At the medical facility, all measures have been taken to protect the victim of the attack from possible threats. A Newsler.ru journalist met with Igor and was struck by how much photos and videos fail to convey the true extent of his injuries.

      Without experience in traumatology, but it is nonetheless obvious what substance he was doused with — there is no doubt — it was acid: the skin on his neck is burned black, apparently the tissue has died. A deep, gaping "rut" runs across his torso and abdomen — apparently the "caustic substance" literally burned its way through. One can only imagine the physical pain Igor is experiencing.

      Despite his condition, he is holding up bravely and making it clear that his fighting spirit is unbroken.

      Investigative version and the CPRF's reaction

      A criminal case was opened immediately after the attack. According to Sergey Mamaev, the perpetrators are on the run and the masterminds are known. Previously Sergey Pavlinovich had already hinted that "political will" is necessary to "bring them to justice."

      Today Igor Ronzhin and Sergey Mamaev expressed gratitude to investigators for their prompt actions, but refrained from commenting on the substance of the investigation so as not to harm the process.

      As Igor himself commented, "everyone knew perfectly well": "There was supposed to be an attack either on the head of the town (Sosnovka's Nikita Gorelov — ed.), or on me." According to him, it had been planned since February and allegedly both the security forces and regional authorities were aware.

      "The attack was cowardly and vile. And stealthy," says Igor Ronzhin.

      Course of events

      The attack took place on the evening of August 4 in Sosnovka, Vyatskopolyansky District, near the house where Ronzhin's mother lives. Unknown assailants sprayed a liquid, presumably acid, into his face and neck, and then beat him.

      The victim suffered severe chemical burns to his eyes, face and body. He was rushed to the ophthalmology hospital in Kirov, where he underwent several operations.

      Political context

      Ronzhin had repeatedly been the target of public threats on social media. According to colleagues, he filed complaints with law enforcement, but the threats were not removed. He himself says that hundreds of complaints were filed.

      Sergey Mamaev believes it is necessary to expose and bring to justice both the perpetrators and those who ordered it.

      Questions remain

      The assassination attempt on a member of the electoral commission in the Kirov region has caused a wide public outcry. People were particularly shocked by the methods used by the assailants, which were immediately compared to the lawless 1990s.

      For the party and the local political field this story is becoming a test: will law enforcement be able to see the case through to the end — after all Mamaev was hinting at a certain "political will" — and show that an attack on a politician will not go unpunished? Or will it all get lost in endless official responses?