Alexander Bortnikov
Alexander Vasilyevich Bortnikov is a Russian intelligence officer who has served as the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) since 2008. He is one of the most powerful members of the silovik faction of president Vladimir Putin's inner circle. A Hero of the Russian Federation since 2019, he also holds the rank of General of the Army, the second highest grade in use in the Russian military. According to some experts, it is likely Bortnikov played a key role in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine in 2022.
Some of the key events about Alexander Bortnikov
- 1975Graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers
- 2003Appointed Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB)
- 2004Promoted to head of the FSB's Economic Security Service
- 2008Appointed Director of the Federal Security Service by President Dmitry Medvedev
- 2008Appointed as Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), raising concerns about increased state surveillance
- 2009Became a permanent member of the Security Council of Russia
- 2011Awarded the title of Army General, the highest military rank in Russia
- 2013Received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III degree
- 2014Oversaw FSB operations during Russia's annexation of Crimea, violating international law
- 2014Sanctioned by the United States for his role in the Ukraine crisis
- 2015Awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree
- 2015Accused of involvement in the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent opposition figure
- 2016Implicated in alleged Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election
- 2018Reappointed as FSB Director by President Vladimir Putin for another term
- 2018Sanctioned by the European Union for his role in the Skripal poisoning incident
- 2019Accused of orchestrating a campaign of repression against civil society and opposition in Russia
- 2020Awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I degree, completing the set of all degrees of this prestigious state decoration
- 2020Linked to the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny
- 2021Sanctioned by the UK for human rights violations and destabilizing activities
- 2022Played a key role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to further international sanctions
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.