Zolotov addressed the opposition leader in the video as "Mr Navalny" several times in a departure from most senior Russian officials, including Putin, who have pointedly avoided referring to him by name.

Navalny, who was barred from taking part in the March presidential elections and is broadly ignored by state television, has sought to carve out a following online publishing investigations into alleged official corruption.

"I want to tell you that the statements you've made about me are insulting, slanderous and false. And it is not a custom to forgive such things among officers," said Zolotov, who has headed the National Guard since it was set up Putin in 2016.

Zolotov warned Navalny against making further allegations about him or his family.

"I promise you that before stepping over you and wiping my feet, I will put on a demonstrative show for all the members of the National Guard. And I can guarantee you will be ashamed to go outside after that," he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the video did not constitute a physical threat to Navalny and he appeared to partially condone it.