
Anna Chekhovich
Financial Director, Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation
Financial director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Since 2017, she has led the foundation’s financial operations while navigating the challenges imposed by the Russian government’s repression of opposition activities. Anna has overseen the adoption of Bitcoin as a tool to maintain the foundation’s operations and support political prisoners, including Alexei Navalny. After the foundation was labeled an extremist organization in 2021, Anna and her team were forced to relocate to Lithuania, where they continue their work under the Future Russia Foundation.
Anna’s professional focus is on financial management within nonprofit organizations, particularly those operating in repressive environments. Her expertise in managing financial operations for organizations facing government surveillance and suppression has been crucial in sustaining the FBK’s mission. She has been a vocal advocate for the use of cryptocurrency, highlighting its role in circumventing the barriers posed by traditional financial institutions in authoritarian regimes.
Her work also includes addressing the difficulties of securing international funding for activists, given the sanctions and regulations that impact cross-border transactions. Anna’s insights into the intersection of finance, activism, and human rights have shaped discussions around the role of cryptocurrencies in empowering opposition movements.