Russian Deputy Defense Minister arrested on charges of receiving bribes

Russian authorities have arrested the Deputy Defense Minister on suspicion of receiving bribes, according to the country's highest investigative body.

The Investigative Committee said on Tuesday that Timur Ivanov had been detained and an investigation was being conducted.

Ivanov, 47, was appointed to the Defense Ministry in 2016 and was responsible for Russian military infrastructure projects.

Activists have long criticized the levels of alleged corruption in Russia.

In 2022, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), the group founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accused Ivanov of participating in “corruption schemes during construction in the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine.”

In particular, she said he benefited from construction projects in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, much of which was destroyed by Russian bombing in the months following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Investigation Committee advertisement The report on Mr. Ivanov's arrest did not indicate how the Deputy Minister responded to the accusations against him.

Section from Criminal law in Russia The terms under which Mr Ivanov was detained – Part 6 of Article 290 – apply when suspected bribery exceeds 1 million rubles (£8,620; $10,700).

Crimes are punishable by large fines and imprisonment of up to 15 years.

Ivanov was previously deputy prime minister of the Moscow region, where current Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu briefly served as governor of the Moscow region, and is said to remain a close associate of Shoigu.

The arrest represents a rare step against a member of Russia's ruling elite, many of whom are believed to have used their positions to amass vast personal fortunes.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin had been notified of the arrest in advance.