Ukraine has introduced sanctions against Mikhail Mamiashvili, the head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR), and four other individuals. This was reported on the official website of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Sanctions have been imposed on Ukrainian lawyer Andriy Bohdan; Ukrainian businessman Bohdan Pukish, an associate and partner of the sanctioned Viktor Medvedchuk; Russian businessman Alan Kiryukhin, a key manager of the sanctioned A7A5 payment system used to circumvent sanctions; and Russian Olympic sports functionaries and propagandists Stanislav Pozdnyakov and Mikhail Mamiashvili,” the statement reads.
This means that the listed individuals, including Mikhail Mamiashvili, who is close to the Russian President, will:
- be stripped of Ukrainian state awards;
- have their assets frozen;
- face a cessation of trade operations with them and their companies;
- be prevented from withdrawing capital outside of Ukraine;
- have their licenses and other permits terminated or suspended;
- be prohibited from participating in the privatization and leasing of state property.
The sanctions will remain in effect for 10 years, with the exception of the permanent revocation of Ukrainian state awards.
As a reminder, Mikhail Mamiashvili, the head of the Russian Wrestling Federation, is considered a person close to Russian President Vladimir Putin—he is loyal to him and invites him to various freestyle wrestling events.
In 2025, Mamiashvili was personally awarded the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” by Putin.
In May 2024, he stated that Ukraine had “crossed itself out of the global wrestling community,” commenting on the absence of Ukrainian athletes from qualifying tournaments.
Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, publicly opposes restrictions on Russian athletes and advocates for their participation in international competitions.
Regarding the other individuals sanctioned alongside Mamiashvili, Ukrainian media recall that on May 21, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Andriy Bohdan—his legal advisor and lawyer for oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky—as Head of the Presidential Administration.
On February 11, 2020, Zelenskyy dismissed Bohdan from this position and appointed Andriy Yermak as his successor.
In June 2020, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Zelenskyy stated that he had initially considered appointing Bohdan as Prosecutor General, but later decided that the position of Head of the Presidential Administration made him more prone to conflict. Ultimately, he dismissed him and ceased communication with him.
At the time, Bohdan claimed that Zelenskyy had “traded dreams of a happy country for the cheap whims of unprofessional people who manipulate him.”
Later, Bohdan alleged that deputies from the ruling “Sluha Narodu” (Servant of the People) party received thousands of dollars in envelopes in exchange for “necessary” votes in parliament.
