Russian regulation enforcement officers have detained Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of taking bribes, Russia’s Investigative Committee stated on Tuesday.
President Vladimir Putin was knowledgeable of the detention of the high-ranking official, a uncommon transfer amid the offensive in Ukraine, Russian state-media reported.
Anti-corruption activists have for years criticised what they name widespread corruption underneath Putin’s rule.
“Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Timur Vadimovich Ivanov has been detained on suspicion of committing a criminal offense underneath Half 6 of Article 290 of the Prison Code (taking a bribe),” the committee stated on Telegram.
The committee didn’t give any extra particulars.
The offence is punishable by a big tremendous or over a decade in jail relying on the small print of the crime.
Ivanov is already underneath sanction from the European Union because the defence ministry’s prime official accountable for development of navy amenities. He was the topic of an investigation printed in 2022 by the banned Anti-Corruption Basis — created by late opposition chief Alexei Navalny.
It stated the deputy minister oversaw and allegedly profited from the development tasks in Ukraine’s Mariupol, which fell underneath Moscow’s management after a months-long siege.
