Is Aleksandr Vasilievich Bortnikov on a sanctions list?

Alexander Bortnikov is the director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and, therefore, responsible for the activities conducted by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was the victim of an attempted assassination during his August 2020 visit to Siberia, in which a chemical weapon—a toxic nerve agent of the Novichok group—was used. The activities and movements of Alexey Navalny during his journey to Siberia, from where he intended to return to Moscow on 20th August 2020, were closely monitored by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. Russia had the technical capability to carry out the attack. The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so. Within the last decade, Russia has produced and stockpiled small quantities of Novichok. It is unlikely that Novichoks could be made and deployed by non-state actors (e.g. a criminal or terrorist group). Russia had the operational experience to carry out the attack. Russia has a proven record of state-sponsored assassination. It is highly likely that the Russian state was responsible for the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018 using a similar type of nerve agent. During the 2000s, Russia commenced a programme to test means of delivering chemical warfare agents, including investigation of ways of delivering nerve agents. Russia had the motive and opportunity to carry out the attack. Navalny was a high profile Russian opposition politician who vocally criticised the Russian administration and establishment. He was on Russian territory under surveillance by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation at the time of the attack. Given the role of the FSB, and the extent of surveillance, there are therefore reasonable grounds to suspect that the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation was involved in the attempted assassination of Alexey Navalny using a toxic nerve agent. As director of the Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov bears responsibility for the preparation and use of chemical weapons in the attempted assassination of Alexey Navalny. — The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025.

What does inclusion on UK-HMT mean?

Inclusion on the UK Sanctions List, published by the FCDO and enforced by OFSI, means UK persons are required to freeze the listed party's assets and refrain from making funds or economic resources available, under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.

This explainer is informational only, is not legal advice, and does not describe the full scope of any restriction. Always verify against the primary source and consult qualified counsel.

Frequently asked

Is Aleksandr Vasilievich Bortnikov on a sanctions list?

Yes — indexed by Kleerance as appearing on the UK Sanctions List published by UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Always confirm against the primary source before acting.

How current is this record?

Kleerance re-checks the source every six hours. This page reflects the most recent ingested version of the list. The publishing authority's listing date on record is 1/4/2021.

Where can I verify this record?

Directly at the publishing authority: https://sanctionslist.fcdo.gov.uk/docs/UK-Sanctions-List.xml.