Shoigu’s deputy is detained on corruption charges

The Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, Timur Ivanov, was detained on suspicion of taking a particularly large bribe, the press service of the Investigative Committee announced. President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have been informed of the deputy defense minister’s detention, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

It is clear from the report of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation that the deputy minister was detained on suspicion of receiving a particularly large bribe. According to Russian legislation, a particularly large amount starts from the amount of 1 million rubles. The maximum penalty under this article is up to 15 years in prison. Timor Ivanov is now being investigated. According to TASS, citing its source, the investigation will file a request for his arrest.

Already in the afternoon, judging by the video on the website of the military department, Timur Ivanov was on the council of the Ministry of Defense. Ivanov’s last public activity was on April 20. It was reported that he had made a business trip to the troops of the Leningrad Military District.

Ivanov is responsible for the departments “Construction”, “Planning and Coordination of the Development of the Troops”, “Housing Construction and Management of the Housing Fund”, “Military Properties”, as well as the Directorate “State Expertise”, the Main Military Medical Directorate and the Federal Directorate “Accumulating mortgage system for housing insurance for military personnel”.

In his capacity as deputy minister, Timur Ivanov is responsible for the organization of property management, troop accommodation, housing and medical insurance. He is responsible for the planning of public procurement for goods, construction and services within the framework of the defense procurement. Among the issues it oversees are engineering studies, architectural and construction design, construction, reconstruction and overhaul of Ministry of Defense facilities.

Timur Ivanov is 49 years old. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense by presidential decree in May 2016. Before that, from 2013 to 2016, he was the general director of Oboronstroy, subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, which specialized in building housing for the military, as well as socially significant and strategic military sites. In 2018, he was included in the Forbes ranking “The richest representatives of law enforcement agencies in Russia – 2019.” with a family income of 136.7 million rubles.

Before starting work at the Ministry of Defense in May-November 2012, Timur Ivanov was the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Moscow Region. During this period, Sergei Shoigu was the governor of the Moscow region. Before that, Timur Ivanov worked in the energy sector: in the Department for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants in Minatom, he was the vice president of “Atomstroyexport”, he was a member of the Board of Directors of “Inter RAO UES” and he headed the Russian Energy Agency under the Ministry of Energy.