A third man has been detained in a bribery case involving one of Russia’s most senior defense officials, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov. Businessman Alexander Fomin is suspected of paying bribes to Ivanov and his associate Sergei Borodin. All three men are to remain in custody until at least June 23. Ivanov, an ally of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was jailed pending an investigation and trial on bribery charges. This is a rare occurrence in Russia where high-ranking officials are accused of crimes. Ivanov was in charge of military construction projects and was previously accused of living a lavish lifestyle in anti-corruption investigations conducted by the team of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Ivanov, who is 48 years old, was sanctioned by both the United States and European Union in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated on Wednesday that the construction projects overseen by Ivanov will continue despite the charges against him. Moscow’s court service revealed that Fomin and Borodin were involved in Ivanov receiving a significant bribe, which is a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. It was reported that Fomin did not pay for goods, work, and services related to repairing and reconstructing buildings, leading to the bribery allegations against him.
A Moscow businessman, whose company is involved in construction, gave testimony that incriminated Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov. The businessman was not named in the reports, but it was revealed that Alexander Fomin owns half of the company called Olimpsitistroy. In 2021, Ivanov awarded Fomin and the co-owner of Olimpsitistroy a state award for building medical centers. Investigators stated that Ivanov conspired with third parties to receive a bribe related to contracting and subcontracting work for the Ministry of Defense. Ivanov’s lawyer denied the accusations, claiming that his client is being falsely accused of taking bribes in the form of construction and repair work on personal properties.
The case against Ivanov has raised speculation about more serious charges, such as treason, which could be hidden under the bribery allegations. However, both Peskov and Ivanov’s lawyer dismissed these claims, stating that only bribery charges were being faced. Ivanov was seen attending a meeting with Defense Minister Shoigu and other top military officials before his arrest. The move against Ivanov came after Putin called on the Federal Security Service to intensify anti-corruption efforts and focus on state defense procurement. It was reported that Ivanov oversaw construction in Mariupol, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russian forces early in the war.
Few high-level officials in Russia have been prosecuted for corruption. In April 2023, former Deputy Culture Minister Olga Yarilova was arrested and charged with embezzlement. Yarilova is currently on trial facing a possible seven-year jail term. Another high-profile case in Russia was the imprisonment of former Economics Minister Alexei Ulyukayev in 2017 for accepting a bribe from one of Putin’s associates. Ulyukayev was granted early release from prison in 2022. The case against Ivanov is seen as a significant development in the anti-corruption efforts within Russia, especially at the high levels of government.
