Deputy Russian Defense Minister Timur Ivanov to remain in custody

(Patria) - A Moscow court yesterday rejected the appeal of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov against his detention on suspicion of involvement in corruption.

Ivanov was arrested last month and accused of taking bribes amounting to approximately $10.9 million, which he denies. The court sent Ivanov (49) into custody until June 23, writes RSE.

Ivanov was the subject of an investigation announced in December 2022 by the Anti-Corruption Foundation of the late opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

The foundation claims Ivanov profited from construction projects he oversaw in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Russian forces largely destroyed in the early months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ivanov was appointed Deputy Defense Minister by presidential decree in May 2016. He was responsible for overseeing accommodation for soldiers and the construction and renovation of Ministry facilities. He is on the list of sanctioned individuals by the US, EU, UK, and Canada.