Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, a former Russian government official and ex-governor of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison by Southwark Crown Court for
breaching UK sanctions.
Ovsiannikov, who holds a British passport, was convicted on six out of seven charges of sanctions circumvention. The charges stem from actions taken after he arrived in the UK in February 2023, including receiving over £75,000 from his wife and acquiring a luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV with help from his brother.
This marks the UK’s first prosecution under the Russia Sanctions Regulations, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Background and sanctions
Ovsiannikov was appointed governor of Sevastopol in 2016 by President Vladimir Putin and later elected to the role in 2017. His involvement in the administration of illegally annexed Crimea led to EU and UK sanctions against him.
Despite those sanctions, he obtained a British passport in January 2023, citing UK citizenship through his father. The EU lifted its sanctions shortly after he entered the UK, but UK sanctions remained in place.
Circumvention of sanctions
After moving in with his brother in Clapham, Ovsiannikov opened a Halifax bank account. His wife transferred £76,000 into it, which he used for a down payment on a Mercedes SUV. Once the bank realized he was under sanctions, the account was frozen. His brother then purchased the vehicle on his behalf for over £54,000.
Additionally, the prosecution noted that in May 2024, Ovsiannikov’s brother paid over £40,000 in school fees for Ovsiannikov’s children, further violating the sanctions.
Although his wife and brother were initially charged, both were acquitted of most charges. However, his brother was found guilty of two counts related to the school fees and received a 15-month suspended sentence.
Sentencing and consequences
Ovsiannikov was sentenced to 40 months in prison, with all sentences to run concurrently. Time already served under curfew—217 days—will count toward his sentence, and he will be eligible for release on licence after serving half.
CPS official Julian Capon confirmed that legal efforts are underway to seize Ovsiannikov’s illicit assets. National Crime Agency chief Graeme Biggar emphasized that this case is one of over 180 investigations targeting individuals linked to the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ovsiannikov previously served as Russia’s deputy minister for industry and trade, but was dismissed and expelled from the ruling United Russia party in 2020.
Under the UK's sanctions, he was prohibited from spending money or receiving financial help—even for essentials. The jury could not reach a verdict on one remaining charge regarding the opening of the bank account. Photo by VascoPlanet Crimea Photography Sevastopol, Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia commons.