Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov Arrested in Bribery Case

A third man has been detained in a bribery case involving one of Russia’s senior defence officials, Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov. Alexander Fomin, a businessman, is suspected of paying bribes to Ivanov and his associate, Sergei Borodin. Ivanov, an ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, was jailed pending an investigation and trial on bribery charges.

Court officials mentioned that Ivanov, who was in charge of military construction projects, was previously accused of living a lavish lifestyle by anti-corruption investigations. It is unclear what prompted the decision to charge him with bribery. The court service stated that Fomin and Borodin contributed to Ivanov receiving a “particularly large bribe,” an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Ivanov’s lawyer denied any other charges, stating that Ivanov faces only bribery allegations.