A top Russian defense official, Timur Ivanov, has been detained on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, marking one of the highest-profile corruption cases since Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. The Investigative Committee stated that Ivanov was taken into custody and an investigation is ongoing. Ivanov, who has held his position for eight years, is accused of accepting bribes on a particularly large scale.
In 2022, the Anti-Corruption Foundation led by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny alleged that Ivanov and his family lived a luxury lifestyle with extravagant spending on real estate, trips, and designer clothing. Ivanov was reportedly overseeing major construction projects in Mariupol, a city in eastern Ukraine heavily affected by the conflict.
According to reports, President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu were informed of Ivanov’s detention. Searches were conducted at Ivanov’s properties late on Tuesday. If convicted, Ivanov could face up to 15 years in prison. Forbes listed him as one of the wealthiest individuals in Russia’s security sector.
Ivanov, an expert in cybernetics and the nuclear industry, had worked in fuel and energy companies before joining the defense ministry in 2010. He became a deputy minister in 2016. This case marks one of the most significant corruption charges against a high-ranking Russian official since the conflict in Ukraine began.
