According to an update from Louwire, the attacker is Anatoly Artyukh, who is the chair of Narodny Sobor, a national Orthodox Christian organization. He was aiming to shut down the show featuring NILE, BELPHEGOR and MELECHESH — all bands who have religious and/or sexually explicit themes — under the premise that it would violate two Russian laws pertaining to blasphemy and religious hatred. 

 

Lehner has been praised for his restraint and not retaliating, as many Russian fans have pointed out he would have likely been arrested for doing so, putting the current BELPHEGOR tour with NILE in jeopardy.