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Alexander Torshin
Russian Central Bank Deputy Governor; NRA Infiltration; Sanctioned
Russian Politician; Central Bank Official; Alleged Russian Intelligence Operative
Overview
Alexander Porfiryevich Torshin is a Russian politician and former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Russia who became a central figure in investigations into Russian efforts to infiltrate American conservative political organizations; particularly the National Rifle Association. Torshin served in the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) from 2001 to 2015; including a term as acting chairman; before being appointed to the Central Bank. He cultivated extensive ties with the NRA over more than a decade; attending multiple annual meetings and building relationships with senior NRA officials and American conservative politicians. His protege and alleged agent; Maria Butina; was arrested in July 2018 and pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Russian government; specifically working to establish "back channel" communications between the Russian government and American political figures through the NRA and the National Prayer Breakfast. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Torshin in April 2018 under authorities targeting senior Russian officials; freezing any assets he held in U.S. jurisdiction. Spanish anti-corruption prosecutor Jose Grinda Gonzalez had previously identified Torshin in a 2013 investigation as having ties to the Taganskaya organized crime group in Russia; including alleged money laundering through Spanish properties and banks. An intercepted phone call placed Torshin at a birthday celebration for a convicted Russian mob boss. The FBI investigated the NRA for potentially acting as a conduit for Russian money to flow into the 2016 presidential election; though the NRA denied knowingly accepting foreign funds. Senate Finance Committee investigators documented that Torshin and Butina had attempted to arrange a back-channel meeting between then-candidate Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during the 2016 campaign.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
U.S. Treasury sanctioned under Executive Order 13661 targeting senior Russian government officials (April 2018)
Spanish prosecutor Jose Grinda identified Torshin as having ties to the Taganskaya organized crime group; intercepted calls placed him at a Russian mob boss birthday celebration
His protege Maria Butina arrested and convicted as an unregistered Russian foreign agent (2018); she specifically worked through NRA to establish political back channels
Senate Finance Committee investigation documented that Torshin and Butina attempted to arrange a Trump-Putin back-channel meeting during the 2016 presidential campaign
FBI investigated whether Russian money was funneled through the NRA to influence the 2016 election; NRA received $30.3 million in contributions from "politically active nonprofits" in 2016
Spanish National Court investigated Torshin for money laundering tied to Russian organized crime; though charges were eventually dropped due to jurisdictional issues
Attended multiple NRA annual meetings from 2011 onwards; building relationships with senior NRA officials including then-president David Keene and board members
Related Investigations (2)
Known Associates & Connections
Maria Butina
Protege and unregistered Russian agent who acted under his direction to infiltrate NRA and U.S. conservative organizations
Sources & Documentation
4 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- January 17; 1953
- Birthplace
- Saratov; Russian SFSR; Soviet Union
- Also Known As
- Alexander Porfiryevich Torshin
Education
- •All-Union Correspondence Finance and Economics Institute
Key Timeline
January 17; 1953
Born in Saratov; Russian SFSR
2001
Enters Russian Federation Council as senator from Mari El Republic
2011
Begins attending NRA annual meetings; cultivating American conservative contacts
2013
Spanish prosecutor Jose Grinda identifies Torshin as linked to Taganskaya organized crime group in money laundering investigation
2015
Appointed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Russia
2015-2016
Maria Butina; working under Torshin's direction; infiltrates American conservative organizations and arranges meetings with political figures
May 2016
Torshin attends NRA convention; briefly encounters Donald Trump Jr. at a dinner
November 2016
Attempts to arrange a Trump-Putin meeting through NRA contacts; rebuffed by Trump transition team
April 6; 2018
U.S. Treasury sanctions Torshin; freezing any American assets
July 15; 2018
Maria Butina arrested in Washington D.C. on charges of acting as an unregistered Russian foreign agent
December 2018
Butina pleads guilty; cooperates with prosecutors; details Torshin's role in directing her activities
April 2019
Butina sentenced to 18 months in federal prison