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American Military News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov Gets 13 Years On Corruption Charges
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. In a landmark case highlighting a deepening purge within Russia's defense and security establishment, a court in Moscow sentenced former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov to 13 years in prison. The Moscow City Court on July 1 found Ivanov, the most visible figure in a massive probe into alleged military corruption that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, guilty of large-scale embezzlement and money laundering. In addition to the prison sentence, Ivanov was fined 100 million rubles ($1.1 million), and stripped of his state honors, including the prestigious Order 'For Merit to the Fatherland' (2nd Class) and the title of 'Honored Builder of Russia,' both of which are highly esteemed in Russian military and political circles. Also convicted in the same case was Anton Filatov, the former head of the state-linked logistics company Oboronlogistika, who received a 12.5-year prison sentence. Ivanov, once considered a rising star in Russia's defense ministry and a close associate of then-Defense Minister Shoigu, oversaw major construction and procurement projects, including infrastructure for the Russian military. He played a key role in rebuilding occupied territories in Ukraine. Less than three weeks after Ivanov's arrest in late April 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military had been criticized at home for a perceived lack of progress and heavy losses during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sacked Shoigu. Ivanov's arrest sent shockwaves through the Russian elite, especially as it coincided with the dismissal of several other senior defense officials. The case against him involved complex financial schemes and kickbacks related to state contracts, which had long been suspected but rarely prosecuted at such high levels. Ivanov maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His legal team has stated they will appeal the ruling, saying they 'disagree with the court's decision.' Ivanov's sentencing is part of an ongoing and intense crackdown on top military and defense industry figures, which was launched quietly in late 2023 and accelerated in 2024. In recent months, several generals and procurement officials have been arrested or dismissed on charges ranging from corruption to treason. Many observers view these arrests as part of a power reshuffle after Russia's military struggled at times in Ukraine, prompting Putin's efforts to reassert control over increasingly fractured security agencies. While state media have framed the arrests as part of a long-overdue fight against corruption, independent analysts and Russian opposition figures suggest the campaign is also politically motivated. It appears to target figures once aligned with powerful 'siloviki' factions — military and intelligence elites whose influence has grown during the war.
Los Angeles Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Russia's ex-deputy defense minister handed 13-year sentence on corruption charges
MOSCOW — Russia's former deputy defense minister was convicted on Tuesday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and handed a 13-year prison sentence in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Timur Ivanov is the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to President Vladimir Putin, survived the purges of his inner circle and was given the new high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the troops. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Ivanov, who has been in custody since his arrest in April 2024, was convicted by the Moscow City Court of embezzling 3.9 billion rubles (about $50 million), the charges that he denied. The court also confiscated his assets that included prized real estate and a collection of several dozen vintage cars. Ivanov's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. Ivanov has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for his role in Moscow's military action in Ukraine. Among numerous other big-ticket projects, Ivanov oversaw the construction of the Patriot Park, which was sometimes called Russia's 'military Disneyland.' The sprawling facility west of Moscow has hosted displays and demonstrations of weaponry and served as a venue for battle reenactments. Its over 13,300 acres host a firing range, museums, a conference center and even a massive, khaki-colored Russian Orthodox cathedral devoted to the armed forces. Putin has personally donated money to commission the main icon for the church, according to the Kremlin. The park's director, Vyachslav Akhmedov, was among a host of officials arrested as part of the military corruption probe. Another former deputy defense minister, Pavel Popov, also was arrested and accused of pilfering state funds allocated for the park in order to build himself a country estate. Popov, Akhmedov and several other former officials remain in custody pending trial.
01-07-2025
- Politics
Russia's ex-deputy defense minister handed 13-year sentence on corruption charges
MOSCOW -- Russia's former deputy defense minister was convicted on Tuesday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and handed a 13-year prison sentence in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Timur Ivanov is the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to President Vladimir Putin, survived the purges of his inner circle and was given the new high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the military. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Ivanov, who has been in custody since his arrest in April 2024, was convicted by the Moscow City Court of embezzling 3.9 billion rubles (about $50 million), the charges that he denied. The court also confiscated his assets that included prized real estate and a collection of vintage cars. Ivanov's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict.
San Francisco Chronicle
01-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Russia's ex-deputy defense minister handed 13-year sentence on corruption charges
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's former deputy defense minister was convicted on Tuesday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and handed a 13-year prison sentence in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Timur Ivanov is the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to President Vladimir Putin, survived the purges of his inner circle and was given the new high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the military. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Ivanov, who has been in custody since his arrest in April 2024, was convicted by the Moscow City Court of embezzling 3.9 billion rubles (about $50 million), the charges that he denied. The court also confiscated his assets that included prized real estate and a collection of vintage cars. Ivanov's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. Ivanov has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for his role in Moscow's military action in Ukraine.
