A Russian deputy defence minister in charge of military construction was detained on Tuesday on suspicion of 'large-scale' bribe-taking, in one of the highest-profile corruption cases since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine.
A brief statement by the Investigative Committee, Russia's top investigative body, said late on Tuesday that Timur Ivanov had been taken into custody.
The statute that the investigators cited for the detention of Ivanov, who has been in his job for eight years, is for accepting bribes 'on a particularly large scale'.
Ivanov was in charge, among other things, of large construction projects rebuilding the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was heavily bombarded and taken by Russia as part of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The court remanded Ivanov, 48, in custody for two months and said that according to the charges he had put himself in a position to benefit from hiring contractors for the ministry where he oversaw construction activities.
In 2022, Russia's Anti-Corruption Foundation, headed by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, alleged that Ivanov and his family led a lavish lifestyle fuelled by outrageous spending on real estate, luxurious trips and designer clothing.
Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, pictured with his wife Svetlana
Ivanov downs a glass of champagne on a boat tour of Moscow alongside his wife Svetlana
In 2022, Russia's Anti-Corruption Foundation, headed by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny , alleged that Ivanov and his family led a lavish lifestyle fuelled by outrageous spending on real estate, luxurious trips and designer clothing
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C), Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Timur Ivanov (L) visit the military Patriot Park in Kubinka, outside Moscow, on September 19, 2018
Russian news reports said Ivanov was likely the most senior Russian official to face such charges since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov with his wife
Timur Viktorovich Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russia, has been remanded in custody for a period of two months until 23 June, in Moscow, Russia on April 24, 2024, on charges of corruption
The sudden arrest of an ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Putin tasked with fighting the war in Ukraine, triggered speculation about a battle within the elite and of a public crackdown on the corruption which has plagued Russia's post-Soviet armed forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies, said a report on Ivanov's detention had been presented to President Vladimir Putin.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had been informed in advance of his detention, he said.
The daily Izvestia reported this morning that searches were also conducted late last night on some of the minister's properties.
Russian news reports said Ivanov was likely the most senior Russian official to face such charges since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 - and if convicted, could face up to 15 years in prison.
Forbes magazine listed him as an expert in cybernetics and the nuclear industry, as one of the wealthiest men in Russia's security structures.
But during his storied career in Russia's defence ministry, Ivanov was responsible primarily for overseeing the construction and maintenance of key military facilities.
'Lets just say the investigation did not start yesterday, the day before yesterday or even a month ago,' an unidentified Russia law enforcement source told the TASS state news agency.
FSB military counter-intelligence was involved in the investigation into Ivanov's practices, TASS said.
It was not immediately clear why such a senior official with a close association with Shoigu would be targeted.
Russian military bloggers have long accused top generals of corruption and incompetence, especially after the army's hurried withdrawal from parts of Ukraine after seriously over-extending itself during the first days of the invasion.
Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, pictured with his wife Svetlana in London
Ivanov's wife, Svetlana Ivanova, is a former television presenter and socialite
The pair have been snapped living the high life in the South of France, where they own several properties and luxury vehicles
They came under fire in 2016 - the year Ivanov was appointed deputy defence minister - after Ivanova shared a slew of racy images to social media depicting her scantily clad frolicking on beaches
Ivanov, who could not be reached as he was in detention, has long been linked to the ostentatious opulence which has characterised some sections of the post-Soviet Russian elite, including luxurious real estate and flashy parties.
His wife, Svetlana Ivanova, is a former television presenter and socialite.
The pair have been snapped living the high life in the South of France, where they own several properties and luxury vehicles.
They came under fire in 2016 - the year Ivanov was appointed deputy defence minister - after Ivanova shared a slew of racy images to social media depicting her scantily clad frolicking on French beaches.
Ivanov, who was born in Moscow, graduated with a degree in mathematics from Moscow State University and completed a dissertation in the organisational models for the construction of nuclear power plants.
He rose through the ranks of Russia's state atomic energy sector and worked as an adviser to the energy minister before moving to become the deputy head of Moscow region's government under Shoigu, who was then governor.
He became a deputy minister in 2016.
