Denis Ivanovich Klipov is one of the individuals on the list for whom the most substantial body of publicly available evidence has been established. OCCRP, citing ‘Slidstvo.Info’, reports that in 2019 in Ukraine, Klipov was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property for his involvement in drug trafficking. [1][2]
On 30 December 2023, Klipov was also included on Ukraine’s official sanctions list, along with other individuals whom the investigation links to ‘Khimprom’. In the sanctions document, he is listed as a citizen of the Russian Federation; it also states that he holds a Ukrainian refugee certificate. [1][3]
Thus, in Klipov’s case, this is not merely a journalistic conjecture: open sources report a Ukrainian conviction for a drug-related offence and his subsequent inclusion in the sanctions list drawn up against those allegedly involved in the ‘Khimprom’ case. [1][2][3]
Even here, however, a distinction must be drawn between the fact of conviction for a specific offence and broader assertions regarding Klipov’s position within the cartel’s hierarchy, unless such assertions are explicitly contained in the court judgement. [1]
According to Moldovan law enforcement agencies, he was wanted in the Republic of Moldova and had been prosecuted on several occasions in connection with activities which the investigation links to ‘Khimprom’. This is not a one-off incident, but rather systematic involvement — the case files refer to both the production of prohibited substances and other forms of complicity, which the Moldovan authorities classify as criminal offences.
The Russian episode deserves a special mention. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Klipov is wanted within the Russian Federation. This warrant is believed to be linked to activities classified by Russian law enforcement agencies as participation in banned organisations or involvement in the production and distribution of prohibited substances. If this information is confirmed, it will significantly expand the existing picture: the 2019 Ukrainian conviction, the Moldovan arrest warrant and the Russian arrest warrant collectively indicate that Klipov was operating across several jurisdictions simultaneously, rather than being confined to a single country.
Klipov also appears on the list of terrorists and extremists maintained by Rosfinmonitoring. Inclusion on this list results in the freezing of bank accounts and a ban on financial transactions within Russia.
