Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Detained For Alleged Bribery: Corruption In The Battlefield To Buy Diamonds

Deputy Minister of Defense of East Russia Ivanov. (TAS/Sergey Bobylev)

JAKARTA - A Russian defense official was detained on charges of bribery, allegedly committing corruption on the battlefield to be called a luxurious lifestyle, including buying diamonds.

East Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov has been detained on suspicion of accepting bribes, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

"East Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimirovich Ivanov was arrested on suspicion of committing a crime under section 6, article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code (receipt of bribes)," the statement said.

A detention order was issued by a Russian Court on Wednesday, a case of alleged corruption since President Vladimir Putin ordered a special military operation in Ukraine in 2022.

Ivanov was arrested on Tuesday at his workplace by the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB in the Soviet Union era. The Moscow Basmany District Court ordered Ivanov to be detained until June 23.

"Investigations believe Ivanov committed criminal conspiracy with third parties, in collaboration with them first to commit organized crimes by organized groups," the court service said.

It said the conspiracy was to accept "property and services on a large scale during contract work and sub-contracts for the defense ministry."

Ivanov, who says he is innocent, faces a threat of 15 years in prison if found guilty.

A Russian source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ivanov was a close ally of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. His arrest was a major blow to the defense minister.

The Kremlin said President Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu had been notified of this matter.

Acting deputy minister since 2016, Ivanov has been in charge of property, housing, construction and mortgage management at the defense ministry, whose spending has increased since the war began.

State news agency TASS said investigations into Ivanov had been ongoing for some time and the FSB military counter-intelligence department was involved.

Furthermore, Ivanov has long been the subject of journalistic investigations. The Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation, led by Russia's late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accused Ivanov and his family of living a luxurious life including cruise ships, helicopters, visits to French Riviera, purchases of diamonds, and a 19th-century mansion in Moscow.

Separately, Forbes Magazine lists Ivanov as one of the richest people in Russia's security structure. Another investigation alleges corruption in the reconstruction of the Russian city of Mariupol, which is now controlled by Russian forces.

Ivanov could not comment because he was in custody.

It is known that President Putin last month ordered the FSB to eradicate corruption in the procurement of national defense.

Separately, several Russian military bloggers have long accused prominent generals of corruption, especially after the hasty withdrawal of troops from several regions in Ukraine after over-imposing on the first days of the invasion.