Russian security services have detained Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of taking major bribes, marking the highest-profile corruption case since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters reports.
Ivanov, responsible for property management and construction at the defence ministry, was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and his properties were being searched, according to Russian state media. The sudden arrest of an ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu raised speculation about internal power struggles and a crackdown on corruption in Russia’s armed forces. Ivanov faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
Military bloggers have long accused top generals of corruption and incompetence, especially during the Ukraine invasion. Ivanov has been linked to a lavish lifestyle, which included extravagant real estate and flashy parties, as alleged by Russia’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, headed by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
