Ivanov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Was Arrested for Bribery

Timur Ivanov, the deputy minister of defense in Russia, was seized by security agencies on suspicion of large-scale bribes, signaling a high-profile corruption investigation.

Timur Ivanov, the deputy to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, has been detained by Russian security agencies on suspicion of receiving large bribes.

Russia’s investigative committee revealed the arrest in a succinct 22-word statement, highlighting an uncommon public campaign against corruption in the nation’s post-Soviet military services.

Ivanov, who has served as deputy minister of defense since 2016, is accused of taking bribes “on a particularly large scale” in violation of the law. If found guilty, he may receive a maximum term of 15 years in prison.

Ivanov’s abrupt arrest has sparked conjecture on possible power struggles inside Russia’s elite circles, considering his tight relationship with Shoigu, who President Vladimir Putin tasked with supervising military operations in Ukraine.

The Kremlin announced that Defense Minister Shoigu had also been informed of Ivanov’s incarceration, in addition to President Putin. This information adds another degree of intrigue to the events taking place, especially since Ivanov was present earlier on Tuesday at a high-level meeting that was presided over by Shoigu.

Ivanov, who was 48 years old, was in charge of housing, building, property management, and mortgages for the Ministry of Defense. However, the ministry has not released any formal remarks about Ivanov’s imprisonment.

Putin’s appointed agency to combat corruption in state defense procurement, the Federal Security Service (FSB), reportedly arrested Ivanov, according to reports from the Russian newspaper Kommersant. The Izvestia daily speculates that more people may have been arrested in relation to the matter, even though there has been no official confirmation. Ivanov’s properties are allegedly being looked into.

The thorough reporting of Ivanov’s case by state media highlights how serious the situation is and raises the possibility of a deliberate attempt to convey a message of zero tolerance for corruption in the military forces.

The TASS official news agency cited an anonymous law enforcement source who alluded to the extended duration of the inquiry and said that FSB military counterintelligence was involved in careful preparation.