MURMANSK. April 5 (Interfax) - Governor of Russia's Murmansk region Andrei Chibis has recovered consciousness following urgent surgery after being stabbed with a knife in the town of Apatity on Thursday evening.
The governor's video address has been published on his Telegram channel.
In his address, Chibis thanked the doctors who saved his life and all those who have been concerned about him and support him.
"I will recover now, and then back into action, only forward," Chibis said.
A criminal case was opened on a count of attempted assassination related to carrying out official duties following the attack on the governor, the press service for the Murmansk region Prosecutor's Office said.
The assailant, an Apatity resident, 42, tried to escape after the attack but was detained, the press service said.
Despite his injuries, Chibis made his own way to his car. He was then rushed to the Apatity-Kirovsk central city hospital, where he underwent surgery.
The deputy governor and the region's health minister, Dmitry Panychev, said after the surgery that Chibis' condition is serious but stable.