Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of accepting bribes. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (SKR) announced his arrest on April 23, citing Article 290 of the Russian penal code for bribery. While no details about the amount of money Ivanov received have been released, media reports suggest it could be at least one million rubles (over 10,000 USD).
Ivanov is known for his expertise in cybernetics and the nuclear industry. He was previously employed in fuel and energy trading companies before joining the Ministry of Defense in 2010. Prior to that, he worked in the Moscow provincial government. Ivanov holds a state councilor of the first rank, which is equivalent to a general or admiral in the Russian army. He is also considered one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals in the security sector, according to Forbes magazine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu were informed about Ivanov’s arrest. His arrest marks one of the highest-profile bribery cases involving a Russian official since the conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022. Despite this, discussions on various online forums continue unrelated to medical issues, business opportunities, and other topics unrelated to the case.