Ex-Russian army commander detained over fraud charge
A former Russian army commander who voiced concerns about the country’s high military casualties in Ukraine has been detained on suspicion of large-scale fraud.
Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, 49, will be held in custody for two months, according to reports from Russian state-run media.
His lawyer told the Tass news agency that the general denies all allegations.
Gen. Popov was dismissed as commander of the 58th Army last year after publicly alleging mass casualties among Russian soldiers and insufficient artillery support.
The Russian defense ministry has not commented on the matter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
On Tuesday, Russia’s Tass and Ria Novosti news agencies reported that Gen. Popov is suspected of large-scale fraud, and his case will be handled by the 235th Garrison Military Court.
They added that his detention was a “preventative measure” following a decision by a Moscow court on May 17.
No further details were provided.
Gen. Popov was dismissed in July 2023 after publicly criticizing Russian military issues in Ukraine.
In a widely circulated voice message, he stated: “It was necessary either to keep quiet and be a coward or to say it the way it is.”
“I had no right to lie in the name of you, in the name of my fallen comrades in arms, so I outlined all the problems which exist.”
Among the issues, Gen Popov said he had highlighted to his superiors was the lack of proper counter-battery systems to help repel Ukrainian artillery attacks, as well as a lack of military intelligence.
The commander said his dismissal was demanded by senior commanders – whom he accused of treason – and approved by the then-Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu.
Mr Shoigu, President Vladimir Putin’s long-standing ally, was earlier this month replaced by Andrei Belousov – an economist with little military experience.
Analysts say the move reflects the changing priorities of the Kremlin and the huge amounts of money the Russian authorities are now pouring into the war in Ukraine – and Russia’s need to boost efficiency in the armed forces widely seen as plagued by corruption.
In recent months, rumors were that Mr Shoigu’s position was growing weaker. His appointment as secretary of Russia’s Security Council is seen by some Russia watchers as a demotion.
In April, one of Mr Shoigu’s deputies – Timur Ivanov – was arrested on corruption charge.
Last week, Gen Yuriy Kuznetsov, a senior defense ministry official, was arrested in a bribery investigation.
Latest reports suggest that Mr. Belousov is forming his team in the defense ministry, getting rid of Mr. Shoigu’s cadres.
