Colonel General Alexander Shlyakhturov (in , born 14. February 1947) was a Russian military officer. Shlyakhturov was appointed head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian General Staff, Russia's largest intelligence agency, on 24 April 2009. Prior to this Shlyakhturov had served as first deputy to the previous head of the organisation, Gen. Valentin Korabelnikov. Korabelnikov had apparently tendered his resignation earlier in the year due to disagreements over reforms of the organisation. Alexander Shlyakhturov resigned as head in early 2012 due to age limits.