Russia's top investigative body said Tuesday that Russia's deputy defense minister, who had held the position for eight years, had been detained on suspicion of accepting bribes.
In Russia, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested on Tuesday and is suspected of corruption activities on a particularly large scale, the AFP news agency reported, citing a statement from Russian investigators. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the report on Ivanov's detention had been presented to President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported, citing Russian news agencies. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also supposed to receive information about the incident.
The RBK news website posted a photo showing Ivanov attending a meeting of ministerial officials chaired by Shoigu on Tuesday.
Tuimur Ivanovmil.ru
Ivanov is one of the richest people in the Russian security structures
News outlets say Ivanov was likely the highest-ranking Russian official to face such charges since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Forbes magazine recognized Ivanov, an expert in cybernetics and the nuclear industry, as one of the richest people in Russian security structures.
Main photo source: mil.ru