One of Russia's most senior defense officials has been detained as part of a corruption probe, with prosecutors alleging he diverted funds from the military to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested by the security services and appeared before a court in Moscow on Wednesday morning, making him the most senior official to be jailed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Investigators allege the 48-year-old was part of a "criminal conspiracy" that saw him take kickbacks "on an especially large scale" as part of his role overseeing military construction projects. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

A Russian law enforcement official told state newswire TASS that Ivanov is suspected of taking bribes and that the case was based "on eyewitness testimony and the results of operational activity."

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who has been sidelined amid criticism of his handling of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had been warned his deputy would be arrested in advance. Ivanov had reportedly attended meetings with Shoigu and other military officials the day prior to his detention.

Meanwhile, local news outlets allege Ivanov — who is believed to have been in charge of construction in the leveled, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol — had amassed an opulent real estate empire of his own.

A 2022 investigation by allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison in February, alleged the defense official had funneled millions of dollars to his wife, who is said to have spent the cash on luxury yachts, jewellery and shopping in Paris.

On news of Ivanov's arrest, Maria Pevchikh, the chair of the Anti-Corruption Fund that Navalny founded, wrote on social media that "today is a good day."

Politico

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