Arrested Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Defense Ivanov denies guilt in corruption – Russia |

April 24. Interfax-Russia.ru – The Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation does not admit guilt in accepting a bribe, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax.

“Ivanov categorically denies his involvement in the crime charged against him and insists on his innocence,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

According to Ivanov and his defenders, the actions of the deputy minister were of a civil nature.

During the meeting, the defense asked not to send Ivanov to a pre-trial detention center, choosing an alternative preventive measure for him. The lawyers insisted that their client did not intend to run away or interfere with the investigation.

However, the court decided that while free, the deputy minister could use his extensive connections to hide from the investigation and trial, and also try to destroy evidence of his guilt in the case.

“The investigation believes that Ivanov’s involvement in the crime is confirmed by the evidence collected in the case, including the results of operational search activities,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

The Investigative Committee of Russia reported Ivanov’s arrest on April 23.

On Wednesday, the Basmanny Court of Moscow, at the request of the investigation, sent Ivanov under arrest. “In relation to Ivanov, the court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for a period until June 23, 2024,” the press service reported.

Ivanov, according to the court, was charged with receiving a particularly large bribe (Part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

As clarified in court, the investigation believes that “Ivanov entered into a criminal conspiracy with third parties, teamed up with them in advance to commit a crime by an organized group – receiving a bribe on an especially large scale in the form of providing services of a property nature during contract and subcontract work for the needs of the ministry defense.”

According to the court, another defendant in the case, Sergei Borodin, was arrested for a similar period of time in the case.

Borodin, according to the plot of the case, “being on friendly terms with Ivanov, who oversaw the construction and major repairs of Ministry of Defense facilities,” was one of the members of the group that united to receive a bribe, it was explained in court.

Ivanov was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation in May 2016, and is responsible for organizing property management, cantonment of troops, housing and medical support for the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Before this, Ivanov headed JSC Oboronstroy for several years.

Part 6 art. 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for punishment for extortion of a bribe for committing actions (inaction) in favor of the bribe giver, for illegal actions (inaction), by a group of persons by prior conspiracy and on an especially large scale. The maximum term of imprisonment is 15 years, and a fine of up to seventy times the amount of the bribe is also provided.