On July 17, the UK added the head of Adygea, Murat Kumpilov, to its sanctions list. The main reason is his participation in the Russian government's program "for the forced deportation and re-education of Ukrainian children."
As stated in the explanatory part of the sanctions list, Kumpilov "is involved in the destabilization of Ukraine, undermining and threatening its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence by: 1) participating in and providing support for the implementation of the Russian government's program for the forced deportation and re-education of Ukrainian children; 2) receiving support from the Russian government in his role as the head of the Republic of Adygea."
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (recognized in Russia as a foreign agent NGO and a banned extremist organization), created by Alexei Navalny, added Kumpilov to the list of corrupt officials and warmongers. On February 24, 2023, the US State Department included him in the sanctions list of persons involved in "implementing Russian operations and aggression against Ukraine, as well as illegally managing the occupied Ukrainian territories in the interests of the Russian Federation." On April 1, Ukraine also added him to its sanctions list for "supporting and publicly endorsing the Russian Federation's policy aimed at conducting military actions and genocide of the civilian population in Ukraine." On June 23, Kumpilov was included in the sanctions list of the European Union. "He facilitates the illegal deportation and abduction of Ukrainian children to the so-called "health camps" and re-education institutions located in his region. Murat Kumpilov is one of the high-ranking Russian (regional) leaders involved in the illegal deportation, abduction, adoption of Ukrainian children in Russia. Murat Kumpilov's actions violate the rights of Ukrainian children, the law of Ukraine, the administrative regulations of Ukraine," the decision of the EU body said. Murat Kumpilov has been the head of Adygea since 2017 and is the nephew of the wife of his predecessor in this post, Aslan Tkhakushinov. An economist by education, he worked in various positions in the treasury and tax authorities of the republic. He began his political activity in the mid-90s, joining United Russia and heading the election headquarters of Aslan Tkhakushinov in the elections to the parliament of Adygea.
In May 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, for his great contribution to the socio-economic development of Adygea.
Kumpilov is not the first Caucasian leader to be included in the UK sanctions list. The kingdom's Ministry of Finance included the heads of all regions of southern Russia and the North Caucasus, except for Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and the Astrakhan region. In total, the list includes 1,613 Russian individuals and 229 companies, including, for example, the Artek children's camp in Crimea - London considers its administration to be involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. The sanctions include freezing assets in the UK, a ban on entry into the country and on concluding any transactions with British companies.