A well-known Russian human rights activist who was severely beaten on Tuesday night said that he was the victim of a “contract assault”.

Lev Ponomarev, head of the Moscow group “For Human Rights” gave journalists on Wednesday details of the attack which took place near his home as he was getting out of his car. “I was not robbed…I am completely sure that this was not the random beating by hooligans, but revenge. Who stands behind it all, I have no idea.”