Russian Military Official Is Held on Bribery Charges
BY MATTHEW LUXMOORE
A Russian deputy defense minister responsible for the armed forces’ most ambitious construction projects was arrested on bribery charges, in the highest-profile corruption scandal Russia has seen in years and at a time when the war in Ukraine is at a critical juncture. Timur Ivanov, a stalwart ally of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was placed in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo jail Wednesday, facing up to 15 years in prison for allegedly receiving payoffs while processing defense contracts, according to the country’s Investigative Committee. At least one other alleged accomplice of Ivanov’s also was detained.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Shoigu was told in advance that authorities were going to arrest Ivanov, who served under him for years. Ivanov was responsible for the construction and maintenance of military infrastructure across Russia, and arranged the billeting of troops at army bases in Russia and in occupied Ukraine. He has been sanctioned by the U.S. and European Union since 2022. Ivanov couldn’t be reached to comment.
They are all unfathomably corrupt and they flaunt their uber-wealthy lifestyle on social media. There are photos of Ivanov at social events with both Shoigu and Peskov. Everyone knows.
Therefore Ivanov isn't arrested because he's corrupt, but probably as part of a power struggle going down in the Kremlin and Putin has just removed one of Shoigu's pawns. That's imo the context you need to see this arrest in. It could signal the beginning of the end of Shoigu himself aka Ukraine's 'best friend' in the Kremlin.