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Top Russian Defense Official Arrested in Major Corruption Crackdown Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

Fraud, Bribery & CorruptionTop Russian Defense Official Arrested in Major Corruption Crackdown Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

Lieutenant General Yury Kuznetsov, head of the personnel directorate of Russia’s Defense Ministry, has been arrested in a corruption case after more than $1 million in cash and valuables were found at his residence during a search. This comes amid a broader crackdown on high-ranking military officials in Russia.

Kuznetsov is suspected of accepting a bribe from a commercial entity in exchange for an unspecified favor, according to Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, who shared this on social media on May 14.

During the search of Kuznetsov’s home, authorities discovered funds in Russian and foreign currencies totaling over 100 million rubles ($1.09 million), along with gold coins, collectible watches, and luxury items, all of which were confiscated, Petrenko said.

“A court has placed Kuznetsov in detention at the request of investigators,” Petrenko added.

Kuznetsov’s arrest signals the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to combat corruption as the war in Ukraine, which Russia initiated, continues.

Just two days earlier, President Vladimir Putin dismissed his close ally Sergei Shoigu from his role as defense minister. On April 23, police arrested Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov on charges of accepting bribes, and a court subsequently ordered his pretrial detention for at least two months.

Kuznetsov was appointed to his current position in May last year. From 2010 until this appointment, he served as the chief of the eighth directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, responsible for protecting classified information related to the Defense Ministry.

Media reports, citing unnamed sources, suggest that Kuznetsov’s arrest is connected to his previous role.

These significant changes within the Russian Defense Ministry follow criticism from pro-Kremlin bloggers and political commentators, who have blamed Shoigu and the Defense Ministry for the poor handling of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Some pro-Kremlin observers attribute Russia’s prolonged struggle to conquer Ukraine to widespread corruption among top military officials.

Putin has replaced Shoigu with Andrei Belousov, 65, a former First Deputy Prime Minister and an expert in economic matters. This move is seen as part of a strategy to streamline the armed forces as the war enters its third year.

Shoigu’s position as defense minister had been under scrutiny over the past year due to the military’s struggles in Ukraine and other related issues.

By FCCT Editorial Team

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are independent views solely of the author(s) expressed in their private capacity.

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