Russian deputy defense minister arrested on corruption charges

The deputy minister responsible for the construction of military facilities, Timur Ivanov, is accused of accepting bribes on a “particularly large scale,” the investigative agency announced late on Tuesday evening. Pre-trial detention was imposed. It is one of the highest-profile corruption cases in Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.

Ivanov must initially be in custody until June 23, the press service of the court in the Basmanny district of Moscow said on Wednesday. The high-ranking official is accused of accepting bribes on a particularly large scale. Ivanov was, among other things, responsible for construction projects in the occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Russia’s army itself completely destroyed during the siege in the first months of the war in 2022.

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Another suspect in custody

According to the court, another suspect in the case has also been taken into custody. It is said to be an entrepreneur who is friends with Ivanov. Ivanov has denied the allegations made against him.

The team of regime opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in custody, had already raised allegations of corruption against the 48-year-old politician at the end of 2022: In a research, the Kremlin opponents accused Ivanov of having financed the construction of real estate in several Russian regions through contractors from the Ministry of Defense let. There was no official response to the publication at the time.

Ivanov is considered a confidant of Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He has been one of a total of twelve deputies to the minister since 2016. In 2012, he was head of the government of the Moscow region, where Shoigu was governor at the time. He later took him with him to the Ministry of Defense when he was transferred. After the arrest, the Kremlin said that Shoigu had been informed of the move in advance.

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Ivanov faces up to 15 years in prison

According to media reports, Ivanov faces up to 15 years in prison. He is probably the highest-ranking Russian official against whom such allegations have been made since the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, it said. The daily Izvestia reported on Wednesday that some of Ivanov’s properties had been searched.

Ivanov has been in office for eight years. Forbes magazine listed the cybernetics and nuclear industry expert as one of the richest people in Russian security structures. In 2022, Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation denounced that Ivanov and his family lead a lavish lifestyle, with remarkably high spending on real estate, luxurious travel and designer clothing. Ivanov previously worked in fuel and energy companies before entering politics.

“There are many different interpretations”

The Russian government initially kept a low profile. It was said that rulers Vladimir Putin and Shoigu had been informed. Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected a media report that the actual reason for the arrest was treason. “There are many different interpretations now,” he explained. You have to concentrate on the information from the investigating authorities and ultimately on the court’s decision. The Defense Ministry had no comment.

Ivanov’s surprise imprisonment sparked speculation about a power struggle within the Russian leadership. A person familiar with the events told Reuters that Ivanov was a close ally of Shoigu. His arrest is a serious blow for the defense minister. Some bloggers welcomed the high-ranking politician’s downfall. Ivanov had long been accused of a lavish lifestyle.