OFSI sanctions listing
Aleksandr Vasilievich BORTNIKOV
Aleksandr Vasilievich BORTNIKOV is an individual designated on the HM Treasury — Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) (OFSI) sanctions list under the Chemical Weapons programme, listed on 15/10/2020. Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. This page summarises the public designation — known aliases, Russia nationality, identifying particulars, the stated reason for listing and linked parties — alongside an independent, transparent risk indicator.
Reason for listing
(UK Sanctions List Ref):CHW0014. (UK Statement of Reasons):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. (Gender):Male
Statement of reasons as published by UK OFSI. This is the issuing authority's wording, reproduced for reference.
Designation record
| List / authority | UK OFSI (OFSI) — Chemical Weapons |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Person |
| Programmes / regime | Chemical Weapons |
| Date listed | 15/10/2020 |
| Source record ID | ofsi:13972 |
| Last updated (our copy) | 2026-06-04 |
Identity & particulars
| Position / role | Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15/11/1951 |
| Place of birth | Perm, Russia |
| Nationality / country | Russia |
Deep-research dossier
Not yet deep-researched
The instant review above is drawn from the public lists. A deep-research dossier goes much further — an analyst-grade OSINT report: associate & co-investment network screening, structural / ownership opacity, a dated risk trajectory, an 8-factor scoring model, and numbered, source-linked evidence. See the format in the design system.
Clarifications & right of reply
Are you Aleksandr Vasilievich BORTNIKOV, or an authorised representative?
You — or your counsel or agent — can file a clarification and supporting documents against this record. Filings are reviewed and verified before anything is published; submissions are never posted automatically.
File a clarification or document
Source & provenance
| Issuing authority | HM Treasury — Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) |
|---|---|
| Source identifier | ofsi:13972 |
| Aggregated by | Sanctiometer (independent) — verify against the issuing authority's official list before acting. |