Former Russian deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov appeared in court on Monday at the start of a high-profile embezzlement trial that could see him jailed for years. Ivanov, formerly in charge of Russian military construction projects, was arrested in April 2024 amid a wider crackdown on generals and military leaders suspected of corruption. Russia has prosecuted more than a dozen military officials and defence sector workers since last year — a crackdown on senior figures accused of siphoning off for personal gain vast amounts of money allocated for major projects.
Prosecutors have accused Ivanov of stealing 3.2 billion rubles ($38.3 million) from Moscow-based bank Intercommerz, which collapsed in 2016, and over 200 million rubles while procuring two ferries to serve Crimea.
The hearing began on Monday morning at Moscow City Court, according to an AFP reporter. Ivanov is being tried alongside Anton Filatov, the former director of state defence corporation Oboronlogistika, which is owned by the defence ministry. Both men proclaim their innocence.
Ivanov’s lawyer, Murad Musayev, told RIA Novosti news agency the charges were “completely groundless”. – ‘The glamorous general’ – Russian media have dubbed Ivanov “the glamorous general”. His family assets, which have been frozen by the Russian court, include 23 luxury and vintage cars, TASS news agency reported, citing court documents.
The 49-year-old, who had been deputy defence minister since 2016, was formal.
