Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov Faces 15 Years in Prison for Bribery: The Russian Official With the Most to Lose Amid High-Stakes Conflict with Ukraine

Russian authorities recently arrested Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov on charges of bribery, a crime that could result in a 15-year prison sentence. According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (SKR), Ivanov was taken into custody under clause 6, article 290 of the Russian penal code. Although details about the amount of money Ivanov allegedly received have not been disclosed, media reports suggest it could be at least one million rubles (approximately $10,000 USD).

Ivanov, who is 48 years old and holds the title of state councilor of the first rank, was pictured at a meeting at the Ministry of Defense on April 23 before his arrest. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu were informed about Ivanov’s arrest. If convicted, Ivanov could become the highest-ranking Russian official to face bribery charges since the conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022. Prior to joining the Ministry of Defense in 2010, Ivanov worked for fuel and energy trading companies and served as governor in Moscow province.

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